[75] The labor of dragging the canoes over-land to avoid the cataracts might be much lessened (where the finest timber is in such abundance), if Government were to order rail-ways to be made, upon which loaded canoes might easily be drawn on wheels. This would more facilitate the intercourse than any other measure, and, from the present enterprising spirit and wisdom of his Majesty’s ministers, we may soon hope to see it put in practice.
[76] The Silver from Potosi, which some years has exceeded twenty millions of dollars, came down the Rio de la Plata to Buenos Ayres.
[77] Some English settlers, disappointed in the river Plata, went to Rio Grande to establish concerns for curing beef, refining tallow, &c. which they soon abandoned from the want of practical knowledge.
[78] Almost every vessel brings a greater or smaller number of negroes, it being the practice at Rio de Janeiro to ship off all those who are ill-disposed and troublesome for Rio Grande, whence, if they continue refractory, they are frequently sold into the neighbouring colony.
[79] It has been found, however, from modern surveys, that those rocks are by no means so dangerous as they have been represented.
[80] In Brazil and the Plata the bridle is made of sufficient length to serve the purpose of a whip.
[81] Delicate connections were soon formed, and females of the obscurest class appeared dressed in the most costly extreme of English fashion.
[82] An arroba is equal to 32lbs. avoirdupois.
[83] Cotton of third quality is manufactured in the country into coarse cloth for bags, negroes’ dresses, &c. and exported to the Spanish colonies in large quantities.
[84] Formerly, if any diamonds were found in a gold-washing, the owner was obliged to desist from working it, and the ground was appropriated by government. This law is now no longer in force.