Chapter I: Preface

The favourable reception given by the public to the two previous books, “Mexico and Her People of To-day” and “Guatemala and Her People of To-day,” induced the writer to continue his studies of the Latin-American countries and people. To this end an extensive trip was made through several of the republics on that great continent to the south of us, and this work is the first result of that journey. Like the previous books it is presented as a study of the country and people from the most reliable authorities, as well as a record of impressions. In its preparation many books have been read and scores of people, Americans, Europeans and Brazilians, have been consulted and interviewed. The author’s purpose has been to present this treatise upon a neighbouring republic and study of our fellow Americans from a broad viewpoint, and avoid the narrowness of some writings in which everything different or unfamiliar is deemed a fit subject for caustic criticism. With this brief explanation of the purpose of this book, and method of its preparation, “Brazil and Her People of To-day” is given to the public.

The author desires to acknowledge his sense of obligation to Hon. Irving B. Dudley, Ambassador of the United States of America to the United States of Brazil, for courtesies and favours extended to the author; to Hon. John Barrett, Director of the International Bureau of the American Republics for kindly words of introduction; and to the Bulletin, issued by the Bureau, for permission to use three or four photographs as illustrations in this book.

TOLEDO, OHIO, August, 1910.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE COUNTRY 1

II. ALONG THE COAST TO THE CAPITAL 23

III. THE CITY OF BEAUTIFUL VIEWS 48

IV. AROUND AND ABOUT THE BAY 77

V. MINAS GERAES AND MINING 91

VI. A PROGRESSIVE STATE 109

VII. AN AMERICAN COLONY UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 134

VIII. THE TEMPERATE ZONE 142

IX. THE AMAZON 164

X. THE PEOPLE AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS 192

XI. EDUCATION AND THE ARTS 214

XII. RAILWAYS AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT 236

XIII. COFFEE 260

XIV. THE LAND AND SEA FORCES 277

XV. RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES 287

XVI. THE EMPIRE 304

XVII. THE REPUBLIC 330

XVIII. A LAND OF PROMISE 353

APPENDICES 371

INDEX 383

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

PICKING COFFEE (_see page 267_) _Frontispiece_

MAP 1

FALLS OF IGUASSÚ 10

THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE, PERNAMBUCO 26

THE BOAT LANDING, BAHIA 30

RIO DE JANEIRO. LOOKING ACROSS THE BAY AT SUGAR LOAF 41

THE PAULO AFFONSO FALLS 46

AVENIDA CENTRAL, RIO DE JANEIRO 53

ONE OF THE BENDS OF THE BEIRA MAR, RIO DE JANEIRO 55

THE LANDING AT RIO DE JANEIRO 57

CARIGADORES MOVING A PIANO 65

THE TREASURY BUILDING, RIO DE JANEIRO 67

THE CITY HALL, RIO DE JANEIRO 69

THE “WHITE HOUSE” OF BRAZIL 71

CLUSTER OF BAMBOOS IN THE JARDIM BOTANICO 83

AN OX TEAM OF MINAS GERAES 92

RUA DIREITA, SÃO PAULO 114

BUZZARDS AT THE MARKET, SÃO PAULO 116

THE YPIRANGA 118

GENERAL VIEW OF THE IMMIGRANT STATION AT SÃO PAULO 120

THE PICTURESQUE FAZENDA DA LAPA AT CAMPINAS 126

“MONTE ALEGRE” FAZENDA 129

A RUBBER PLANTATION OF MANIÇOBA RUBBER TREES 133

VIEW IN VILLA AMERICANA 136

A BRAZILIAN FRUIT MARKET. MELONS FROM VILLA AMERICANA 138

LOADING COFFEE AT SANTOS DOCKS 145

CUTTING RICE WITH AN AMERICAN HARVESTER 146

SELLING CATTLE IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL 156

VIEW OF PORTO ALEGRE 159

A SCENE ON THE AMAZON NEAR ITS MOUTH 174

A NEW SETTLER IN THE JUNGLE 189

NEGROES IN BRAZIL 195

LABOURERS’ HOMES ON A PLANTATION 201

THE FIFTEENTH OF NOVEMBER IN SÃO PAULO 212

A SCHOOL FOR BOYS IN SÃO PAULO 216

A SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN SÃO PAULO 219

STUDENTS AT THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, PIRACICABA 225

THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE, RIO DE JANEIRO 233

THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE, SÃO PAULO 234

THE SÃO PAULO RAILWAY, NEAR SANTOS 256

DRYING COFFEE 268

CHURCH AT NICTHEROY 295

THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH AT JUIZ DE FORA. A SHRINE ON TOP OF THE
MOUNTAIN 299

A TYPICAL BRAZILIAN STREET 308

A MUD AND THATCH COTTAGE 316

A GENERAL VIEW OF BAHIA 323

A RURAL HOME 330

A BRAZILIAN CRUISER 342

A FARMER’S HOME 353

BRAZIL AND HER PEOPLE OF TO-DAY