In our own colonies the Colonial Governments have naturally been the chief promoters of emigration, from exercising, as they do, full control over their own revenues and over public lands; but in Brazil the impetus must first come from the action of the Central Government, which receives and distributes the provincial revenues after payment of provincial expenditure.
In the southern provinces of Brazil the cultivation of coffee and cotton offers the greatest scope for European labour, and the Province of San Paulo alone is capable of wonderful development as respects the growth of these two important articles if only proper means are adopted to provide augmented manual power.
The northern provinces present greater difficulties, from the nature of the climate, which is more adapted to a people like the Chinese than to Europeans. There is, however, an objection to this industrious race in consequence of their desire to return home when they have accumulated a little money. A further introduction of the African race as free labourers would be very advantageous. Though this might be a great gain to the negroes themselves, whose lives in their own country are at the mercy of such wretches as the sable King of Dahomy, philanthropists object to the removal of Africans from their native soil on any grounds, entirely ignoring the miserable existence they lead there and the barbarities to which they are subjected. But let slavery be once abolished in Brazil, and there could be no objection that I can see to their settlement in those provinces where their labour would be most useful, say from the River Amazon down to the Province of Bahia. This, however, is only a casual remark, and does not come within the scope of my present inquiry, namely, as to the best mode of introducing European labour into Brazil. As I have already pointed out to the Government, the passage money of emigrants must be paid, or advanced, the selection of them must be carefully attended to, and on reaching Brazil they should be sent on immediately to their ultimate destination, where suitable accommodation should also be provided against their arrival. Every necessary arrangement can easily be made if the Government and landed proprietors would take some trouble and show their practical earnestness in the matter.
There is an Emigrants' Home, or temporary abode in Rio de Janeiro, where proper attention is paid to them, and an officer (Dr. Galvao) is especially appointed by Government to look after this department. I quite intended to have visited this establishment, but was unable to do so. I had, however, a conversation with Dr. Galvao on the subject of emigration generally.
EMIGRATION TO THE RIVER PLATE.
No country in South America is more favourably placed, or presents a greater field for European labour than the River Plate, notwithstanding the drawbacks which have to some extent retarded its progress and injured its character. It has an advantage over Brazil in the absence of slavery, and is of a milder climate, though it is very hot during the summer months, as I experienced when at Monte Video, in January last, at which time the cholera was at its height.
A friend, who has resided in Buenos Ayres for two or three years, chiefly out in the campo, has thus recorded his experience of the average temperature:—
| 20 | Days | very cold | 45 to 55 | deg. Fah. |
| 182 | Days | moderate | 55 to 75 | deg. Fah. |
| 60 | Days | warm | 75 to 88 | deg. Fah. |
| 45 | Days | hot | 80 to 85 | deg. Fah. |
| 58 | Days | intensely hot | 85 to 105 | deg. Fah. |
| 365 | Days. |
The thermometer, in exposed places, reaches 110 Fah. in the shade, but such cases are very exceptional.
He also adds as follows some very useful remarks as to clothing: