The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-31
The Bra. Eli Fever,

|
ton, sends the Ners the following
letter for. publication, the writer of
which, Mr.. Williams says, is a gen
tleman of close observation and of
more than ordinary intelligence:
HARRoDsDuRc, Ky, May %. 1867.
g. ". JEINioms, Esq.
DEAR SIR: On orr parting Mt
Charleston in january last, on my
way to Brazil, I promised to address
You on my return to the United
States, which [ now do. After ira
Yelling on the coast and land 5000
miles in Brazil, I returned to the
United States, satisfied that Brazil
would not suit our people, all things
considered, notwithstanding thou
sands are going there who are not
informed, and, I think, will never be
happy or even comparatively salts
fed. Nature has done much for
Brazil. More beautiful harbors and
scenery the world cannot excel
much of the soil very fertile, but not
more so than many parts of tho
United States; fine climate-that
is, If one is fond of perpetual sum-
mer. Thermometer average from rs
to 9S-in short, average of South
Carolina summer. Rio de Janeiro is
precisely the climate Of Havana.
Population of Rio 100000. But few
roads III the entire empire that would
admit of n wagon, and only three
railroads i'll the entire empire, one of
which is eighty-fvo miles, another
125 miles, the other ninety miles. I
regard the country rs being adapted
we'll for coffee, sugar and tobacco,
but not for grain, and cotton regard
as yet an experiment. Rice does
well. L have very great doubts rs to
cotton doing we'll there; the soil is
all right. but the climate 1 doubt.
They do have the wet and the dry
season there, and either of which
would ruin cotton crop in Carolina,
and L see no reason Willy it would not
III Brazil. Last year, in the most
desirable province, understood that
1T did not rain IL six months. It is
the worst country III the world to
obtain truthful information MS to
these matters. All the book-writers
deceive the public, and when + see
you will tell you the cause, which
you will easily understand. There
are no facilities i'll the country, and,
worse than. all, the language, which
is Portuguese, then the habits, man
p,rs and mode of living; and any
man must be very vain who supposcs
that few Americans can go 10 that
naturally fine country and cause those
people to adopt ours. Not so. If
you go there, you must give up the
English, acquire the Portuguese, and
become thorough Brazilian, before
you could begin to live there; live on
Mandioca meal for bread and n barrel
of imported flour, to reach the inte-
rior on the back of pack mule,
which Is a great curiosity, and bacon,
rarely seen in kio, fifty cents per
pound in gold; and of the many
families going there now, by the
time they settle in the interior, 1
think it doubtful whether they will
ever see ham of bacon or barrel of
flour again. Society none whatever
The coffee plantations were beauti-
full in the extreme. The negroes
looked well, and would class, in ap-
pearance, with ours in the States, in
the days of slavery, but 1 did not
think they were as good workers
The price of slaves, for young men
and women, likely, from $500 to
$500. Much more has been said in
this country about the emancipation
of slavery in Brazil than has been
said there. If could have consent
ed to settle in Brazil, I can only say
that 1 would not have any fears on
that score. But I could not consent
to settle there with my family, all
things considered. OF course, can
not undertake in this letter to go
into details. When | see you, can
tell you many things interesting as to
that country.
1 have purchased property in Ken
tIcky, and shall return to South Ca
rolina next week, and hence will see
you shortly. Yours truly.
ID |,