Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-01-28
YOung's Letters--NO. X.
MoRRETTEs, Parana, |
Rra1,I Turo 1897

| have pointed out many of the advantages
| believe this country offers to American emf
grants. Now let me note some of it's disad
vantages, or rather the one great obstacle,
which, when overcome, all others vanish like
mist before the morning sun, or shrink into
mere trlf1es. L refer to ignorance OF the Iorta-
gese language.
1t is hard for one who has never experienced
it to imagine the lonely desoate. feeling that
comes over a man on finding himself among a
people whose language he does not understand
They may be polite and hospitable they may
try their best to make him feel ''at home -
but all to little purpose while he wants words
wherewith to return their civilities or make
known his vans. 1t was in this situation I
| found myself here until | made the acquaint-
ance of my esteemed friend, Mr. Bruce, and un-
| til he had brushed up somewhat his almost for
gotten native tongue-English. And similar
experience awaits all who come to Brazil if they
| settle where there are none who understand
their language They will soon become lone
some and homesick, and, if not possessed of
great nerve and determination, will feel like re-
turning to the land they left and cannot wholly
cease to love.
1t is best, then, for immigrants to come in
families, or companies who are well acquainted
with and can thoroughly depend on one anoth
er, so that they will have the comfort of socie-
ty and assistance in case of need. And further,
| they should come determined to improve the
opportunities which Providence and most lib
eral government have bestowed upon them in
this delightful country, and to build up new
homes for themselves like the ones from which
they were driven. The acquisition of the Ian
guage will be troublesome to the older immi-
grants, some Of them will hardly ever be able
to learn more than enough to express the COM
monest wants but to the young it will be easy
| n tpW or of how
get along very well in it. Those who under
stand Latin or French will learn the Portuguese
in short time, and besides they will find
most Of the educated Brazilians profcents in
both of those languages. l repeat, then, that
| immigrants must come prepared to acquire the
language by patient study and pactice, or they
will be apt to become homesick and wish them
| selves back.
! The matter of next Importance is capital
Poor men-I mean those who have nothing but
capacity for bodily labor to bring-had better
stay away. Labor is cheap here, much cheap
er than in Missouri. Hence capitalists have
fine field for the employment of money either
| in agriculture, manufactures, or In lending on
interest Any intelligent farmer who can bring
few plows, harness, and other things, such as
he would need on small farm in Missouri, and
two or three thousand dollars, will be very safe
in coming Or any mechanic say carpenter,
|
layer, stone mason, plasterer, brickmaker, &C.,
who can bring a full set of tools and one or two
thousand dollars may come. l am confident
that each and all OF them can, In two or three
years, place themselves in more comfortable and
independent positions than they can ever hope
to reach in the United States.
The Bay of Paranagua is about forty miles
long. 1t is In some places four to six miles
wide, In others, quite narrow, with plenty OF
water for large sized barges to Antonina at the
upper end of the bay. At the entrance there
is forty-eight feet water, and nowhere less than
twenty one feet from there to Paranagua. The
navigation of the bay is easier and safer than
that of your Western rivers. | give these items
| in answer to a letter from one who seems to be
a steamboat man. If he were here to examine
for himself [ think it would not be long before
we would have boat run in real American
style, as to speed and punctuality, which would
be blessing all round.
A distiller inquiries about the prospects in
his line Stills can be bought in Rio at 40 to
SO cents per pound-as cheap, / think. as in
the United States. The business of making
whiskey-carried on outsnear Curytbe, could
not fail to be very profitable, and there is no
reason why they could not make as good an ar
ticle as Bourbon or Robinson county," for
the country there will produce barley, rye, &c.,
equal to any, in the world They distil nothing
but rum at MOrrotCoS. w n1Skey sells mere at
fifty cents bottle. By the quantity, l sup
pose, it would sell at one dollar gallon There
is no tax on the product. A distiller's license
costs only ten dollars year. Connecting the
raising Of hogs with the business-in short,
conducting it in the skillful, economical way in
which it is carried on in the States-it would
certainly be profitable.
A writer from Ray county, Mo-, inquiries
what kind of merchandise he could take out
that would be in demand and pay him profit.
| reply, as to dry goods, and all the lighter and
fancy kinds of goods, there are large stocks
here, brought from France and England, and
sold at lower prices than in the States. A good
article Of coarse boots and shoes is wanted, the
English not being as good as the American
Strictly useful articles, such as plows and agri-
cultural implements, wagon harness, tools and
other articles used in farming would command
profit. Of fancy articles We have enough
| The useful alone are scarce and needed
The currency used here consists of gold, sill
yer and copper coin, and paper Of the Bank of
Brazil. American gold passes current at Rio,
but not in the Provinces, where the people do
not know its value. Immigrants had better
change their gold at Rio for the paper of the
Empire, which is everywhere current, and pre-
ferred to coin, being more portable.
/ Many inquiries are made respecting the best
route to Rio, the cost, &c. New York affords
the best facilities. Every week or so there is
sailing vessel which will carry passengers to
/ toiv tof