After a short period of silent suspense, General W. W. W. Wood rose, and with Mr. Bennaton as interpreter, proceeded to lay before this dignified and highly respectable assemblage his views in regard to the objects to be attained by the organization of a society to promote emigration to Brazil, and especially to this province. But he concluded with referring any action that might be thought proper to the discretion of those present who might feel interested in the movement. He subsequently requested that Dom Gavião would give his views to the meeting, which he did at some length without rising from his seat; and as Mr. Bennaton stated subsequently, quite favorably to the object in contemplation. General Wood then made a few remarks further, touching the subject under consideration, at the close of which I suggested that we should retire, and leave our Brazilian friends to deliberate freely upon all points they might desire to discuss. It was accordingly so announced, and we took our leave of this select assemblage.
I called early this morning upon Senor Bento Alves, No. 10, Rua do Commuveio, to make arrangements for visiting a fazenda, called Bananal, some sixteen miles from the city. Finding he had but one animal at hand, I had to wait until next day for him to procure one for me, and we expect to go to-morrow morning at 6 o’clock, without any interpreter.
Wednesday, November 22, 1865.
The result of the meeting yesterday was the formation of an association to promote emigration, with the following appointment of officers:
For President, Barão de Ignape.
For Vice-President, Commendador Queiroz.
To Draft a Constitution, Commendador Queiroz, Dom Bernardo Gavião, and Dom Pinto, Junr.
Thus we have the initiation of a very important movement for the interest of those who may come from the Southern States to this province; and the only feature that strikes me unfavorably is, that the president is quite an old man, without that energy which a younger person could bring to the work. If it can be brought into that practical and efficient operation which the expressions of favor would warrant, we may confidently rely upon something being effected for the advantage of emigrants from the Southern States.
I rode with Senor Bento Alvez to-day, to visit the Fazenda Bananal; and though he understood nothing of English I managed to use enough Portuguese to make him understand me, and I guessed pretty successfully at what he said to me on the way.
The first five miles of our route was over a most excellent public highway, to the Frequezia Penha, which has cost the province a round sum of money; but there are very few buggies or carriages to enjoy this fine drive. I was especially struck with the great number and variety of crosses, made of wood, that stood upon the roadsides after passing this little village; and my travelling companion never came opposite to one, without raising his hat, as an act of religious veneration. Some of these crosses indicate that a death has occurred near, or serve as a talisman. It is so common to see a cross upon the roadsides, in various portions of this country, that I have endeavored to get some intelligible explanation of their design; but no one seems to have any more satisfactory solution than that these people think that they secure some immunity from all harm by the presence of a cross. They are seen very frequently at the forks of roads, at the point where a family path leads into the main road.