Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-14
THE PORTUGUESE AT HOME.
LISBON, MospAy. Fvu.,, !

J LISBON, MONDAY, February o. 1879
promised to give you some account of PORTUGAL ono
of the most interesting countries OF Eurons and ;,h
the exception Of the small States in the centre tho
known on our side of the Atlantic Neither tr.da 49,
emigration has brought us much into connexion with u
There are, perhaps fewer Portuguese In the United
than of any other considerable European country T
Brazls, Inhabited and ruled by people speaking ,h
same language and of kindred blood attract nearIv ali
emigrants from this country. -
Portugal is about the size of Maine and has hundred
inhaptants 10 each square mile. Massachusetts, the
most densey peoped Of the States has eighty-four in
haoitants to the square mile.
us surface IS unlike any thing the traveller observes in
our own country 1t is neither mountainous nor level
Inc only portion of which have personally seen-the
central part OF the Atlantic side from the Tagus north
ABOUT hundred miles to the Mondego-has some lofty
and bold mountains but generally wears the
OF an originally undulatng surface deeply cut and torn
by Hoods The principal roads lie along the higher
ridges and the native forests nearly removed
you have league after league an almost bounass land
scape before and behind you and either hand From
THIS era Free and often wild and grand passage along
the hgh road, where for hours YOU meet no
veer, ana hardly any living thing, unless it be hawk
sailing far above you, lizard summing himself in YOUR
PATH you suddenly descend, many hundred feet Ia a
cluster OF bright white houses with ancient church
and ruinous convent among them upon the sides Of an
unfailng stream Here, in midsummer when all
the upper country parched and cracking with drought
that literally burns green thing you are delighted
with fresh verdure, with the grape orange and fig in
their perfection and with fields of Indian corn in ali the
stages Of its growth from the first bright blade to the
rpened ear, and with the glad laugh and gay song of
careless and happy peasantry. On the summit of
neighborng hill overlooking and commanding the village
are probably the ruins OF for may be Of Moorish or
even of Roman origin Though so thickly peopled the
general aspect the country solitary you pass leagues
without seeing house or sign of human habitaton
The population is concentrated in villages. The valleys
along the rivers cuvatedo their utmost capacity
and the restof the land fed by goats and sheep cropped
Of its ferns for manure for the river bottoms.
Another feature Of the social state here, entirely unlike
Iplu hv Tho
who reside for the Of the year entirely in the city,
and cultivate their estates by agents To these estates
attached vast numbers Of servants and dependents
who in their health and strength perform the labor of
the country and in sickness and old age I've upon their
masters bounty In such climate their wants few
Very little shelter and clothing required and nobody
can starye where bread is good and plenty and fresh
fruits are always bushing the vine and the loaded
branches Of the trees by the way side and along every
strcamlet never saw beggar in the country, except
the road to Cinra In the towns they frequent;
and the baray with which all classes Of the Portuguese
meet their ncessant demand is honor to human nature
proud spirit ght dsdain to beg but beggar is
denied here, and the charities of this country
plary.
interest you in the condition of the country and that
the distinction between the Government and the people
The Government is chiefly at Lisbon and Oporto These
cities comprise, perhaps four hundred thousand Of the
three and half millions of the population of Portugal
And yet far as am able to learn the Government acts
and acted upon mainly in these cities The Govern
ment is poor the people are oy no means So There Is
vast wealth in Lisbon, and abundance all the
try. The Government undergoes revolution and the
people very little affected BY it, Of them little in
terested in it. 1t has connected itself with them by
any great system of domestic policy; and strong ties
are violated when set Of goes out Of power and
another comes in. Being benefited by no vital agency
of the public authorities unfolding the and s
muang the enterprise of The people, the people not
pouring their cheerful Contributions unconscious sup
plies into the public treasury
The present Government appears to to have the
quste character for benecent authority 1t is unsefsh,
patriotic and bold II does hesitate incur reproach
home and abroad by doing its duty the country If
it pay the public creditor it does delude him
with false hopes Ii out and confessesits inability
1t is work. with honest ZEAL in the improvement Of
the tariff in the construction of roads, and in the
mical administration of the Government