The Times-Democrat (New Orleans, Louisiana)  Wed. Sep. 11, 1867  Page 2  

OUR BRAZILIAN CORRESPONDENCE,
The Manners and Customs of our People- 
TheEnticements of Immigration. etc.
Para, Brazil, August 1, 1867.

     To the Editor of the N.O. Times -- For the "love I bear you," and the old readers of your paper, I am going to give you some account of the people, and other things I have seen in this country, together with an honest description of the climate, soil, and productions.  Since I saw you  I have "done" the coast of Brazil from Rio Grande de Sol to this place, and of course, have seen something.  I have been at this place for two months, and from what I have seen of the people and country here, and read about the people and political condition flare, I have determined to stay here always.

     There are many good and kind people and many who are opposed to emigrants coming to the country.  Of the former, I may mention the Hon. Mr. Delamare, President of the Province and Admiral of the Navy, is a gentleman in size, form, and color, and seems to be the peer of any statesman of any country.  He is a married man (by no means a common case in this country,) I and every family arriving here is sure to receive kindness and favor if they apply to him.  The two Campbells, natives of the country, are also married and live according to the custom of all civilized countries.  They are respect-able merchants of the place and own large cattle estates on the island of Marajo.  T them a gentleman stranger can apply with safety for information or hospitality and kindness.  There are but few others in this class who speak the English language.  Many respectable gentlemen here, and indeed the great majority of them, live with some lady o colored descent in concubinage, from whom they rear large numbers of citizens ready "sunburnt."  These same citizens, up to 12 years old, are always to be seen in the streets or in the doors and windows with the same clothing they were born with, except at night or soon in the morning, very disgusting to the sight of foreigners.   No ladies are ever seen promenading the streets, and whilst such is the custom "society" will be of a low order.  The inhabitants, generally speaking, are of a mixed breed--very difficult to find a pure negro, a pure Indian, or a pure white man.  Many, however, are well educated and are gentlemen in their bearing and conduct. and all are peaceable, friendly, and kind one to another, as well as to strangers.
     They all live working the soil; there are not ten acres under cultivation in this province, nor is there a vegetable garden in or near this town.  In some places, they plant a few kinds but don't cultivate any.  Well, they don't them, for the fruits of the country supply all their wants of this order.  Nearly every tree here bears a fruit, nut, or something else for the use, comfort, or pleasure of man.  A patch of cane planted will give always and without any cultivation.  Everything seems to grow well here that is or has been planted.
     The climate is warm, but never excessively hot; 86 deg. is the highest mercury has shown since I have been here, and 72 deg. the lowest.  There is always a breeze, and the nights are deliciously cool.
     In all this country there is pure and cool spring water, with an abundance of it.  The people seem to "suffer" with good health.  I know one young man that has been here 55 years, and he says he was 21 when he came.  He is a planter and has a wife and children, and 25 slaves, about five days in a canoe from here.  (There are no miles in Brazil.)  His name is Martin, (is a "bird" for sure), and came from Scotland.  There are here of the same leather, but not so worthy of mention.
     I have not seen or heard of any death or burial since I have been in this city, comprising 30,000 souls.  I believe that the salt fish and Farinha de manioca are positively healthy, though in flush in old times in the states, we would have scorned the idea of feeding a dog on it without other food.  There is plenty of good beef in the market at eleven cents per pound, chickens fifty cents, eggs thirty cents a dozen, and plenty of them.  Great country for chickens.  There are but few mosquitos or other insect pests.  Plenty of wild game, deer, para, possums, armadillo, and birds of the wild turkey and partridge species, some of which are of the most beautiful plumage.
     A "Fazenda" near this city, with a sugar mill, cachaca distillery, dwelling house, and a nice patch of sugar cane on it can be bought for about $1,000or $1,500. with, of course, plenty of fruit trees.  This is a good country to emigrate to but for a few las of the land.  If you buy lands or slaves you have to pay six percent taxes to the government, on account of purchase, and when you have produced any article of commerce, there are twelve percent export duties to be paid.  If a basket of oranges is brought to the city, before it is allowed to be landed, one cent duty must be paid-- the basket, oranges, and all worth but twenty-five cents.  The currency of the country is denominated in mil-reis (1000 reis;) 20 reis make one cent; patacas, (18 cents;) crusades, (20 cents;)  tostaos (5 cents;) and vintems, (one  cent.)  The greater portion of small currency is copper, in half-cent, one-cent, two-cent, and four-cent pieces.  There are some 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 reis pieces of silver, but they are generally hoarded and kept out of circulation by the Portuguese shop keepers, their names being legion in this country.   
     All kinds of clothing and dry goods are much lower here than there.  Every article of neccessity or luxury can be obtained here, from a grubbing hoe to a bottle f hair tonic.  Good Baltimore flour sells here for $10 a barrel, and hams at about 30 cents a pound.  Board and lodging per day in the best hotel are s $1.50.  A good tailor will make a suit of clothes for about eight dollars.  Servants hire at about thirty-two cents a day, but not many to be had.  At an auction of slaves a few days ago the best brought 1100 mill-reis and some for as low as 400 mill-reis.
     There are "plantations with slaves" for sale; one with good dwelling, sugar-house, steam engine, iron mill,  (rollers 18 inches long by 12 in. diameter,) and plenty of land, 5000 acres if you wish, with 5 working slaves on it, "three hours in a canoe" below the city, for $25,000, a part cash and balance on time.  The land is generally level and rich, never overflows, covered with a thick growth of underwood and tall timber trees.
     I have not seen any big snakes or alligators yet.  I anticipate that pleasure in a few days.  I leave here tomorrow by steamer for Crato, a frontier post of Brazil, on the Madeira River, to see the beautiful "Campos de Capeu," (Prarie of grass,) covered with fat cattle and deer.  The Government is kind enough to give me transportation there and back, and if I settle there to send us all free of cost.  There is a family which has been living there four years, all very healthy, and speak highly of the country.  We shall see for ourselves , and if you please, report to you for the information of those who are bent on going to someplace "outside,"  I know you are opposed to some things, but then you know there are some things that some men can't bear as the dream nowadays is "of all things free." 
     The trade of all this country is India rubber, Brazil nuts, sarsaparilla, and cocoa - from this last choc-olate is made.  All of these articles are obtained from the forest, with but little labor, and requires no capital for the outfit.  What a great country this would be for the freedmen of the "South," if he could only come here?  The law bars them.  There is really no necessity for one to labor here.  The fruits, roots, and nuts of the forest furnish a healthy abundance, and no clothing except a fig leaf is needed.  What a country for a lazy man!
     Slavery will be abolished soon, it is generally thought, and I think it is just as well, for in no part of Brazil is the slave of much value to his owner.
     I honestly believe the Valley of the Amazon is the best place for any man to emigrate to if he is determined to leave the United States.  There are no Gardens of Eden ready-made, nor are there any golden apples, "not as anybody knows of," though there are plenty dragons to guard them, in the form of spotted tigers, cobras, alligators, etc.; but if any man wants to settle down away from the politic's (Republican) bustle and hubbub of the word in a quiet, steady nook on a river bank, to fish, and nap, and while away the balance of his term of life, this is the place to come to.  The opening of the great river "to the public" and the rest of the world on the 7th of next September will, it is thought, be a big thing.
     I think of opening a hotel on the Madeira River, halfway to Bolivia, to accommodate a part of the immense travel through; would take a partner, and even another on the Ucayali, on the route to Peru, thus getting all.  No capital is required.  Seriously, this will be one of the greatest incidents in the history of this country and will bring this heretofore unknown region up for consideration by the emigrating populations of the world.  They will come to look at it and will be satisfied, especially those who wish to cultivate the soil.  The advantages of water transportation here are very great, the entire country being cut up into ordinary plantations by creeks and bayous, navigable for all crafts drawing not over six feet of water.  On the Madeira are large prairies of rich land, requiring no labor to clear a plantation, with plenty of labor to be hired-- the Bolivianos and civilized Indians.  There is plenty of good spring and well water, with an abundance of fruit, fish, and game.  Cabins to dwell in can be bought from the Portuguese and Indians for one hundred mill-reis or less, and in five years you pay the government for the land twenty-two cents an acre and take as much as you wish to.  To any good man with a family arriving here to cultivate the soil, the government will loan the cost of his passage here, payable in two or three years, or he can come as a Government steamer by going to Rio de Janeiro.
     The Catherine Whiting, from New Orleans, arrived here on the 14th last.  All on board, Many of the passengers stopped here.
T.L. McGee