The Portland daily press., 1868-01-30
Recent Publication.

a JOURNEY IN BRAZIL-By Professor and
Mrs. Louis Agassiz.-8yo. PIP. $40. Boston:
Ticknor & Fields.
The substantial results OF Proies sor Agassiz's
explorations In Brazil have already been laid
before the public in his lectures, but COM
plete record OF the expedition itself Is for the
first time presented In this volume The mar
rative Is made up mainly from the diary OF
Mrs. Agassiz, with notes and observations ad-
ded by the Professor from day to day, recorded
in simple and untechnical language, some in
teresting letters to the Emperor of Brazil con-
tanning summaries of the different stages of
his progress, and one or two appendices, rela-
tive to scientific topics. The book is very ap-
propriately dedicated TO Mr.. Nathaniel Thayer,
to whose prince)y liberality the Professor was
indebted for the equipments and the compe-
tent corps of assistants which enabled him to
give bis journey the character Of scientific
expedition and not of mere personal tour.
The scientific report of all which this expedi-
tion accomplished Is yet to come In eiaborately
prepared volumes now in preparation; but in
the meantime this lively narrative of the ad-
ventures, sights and scenes encountered by the
party, is full of interest. Mrs Agassiz describes
"N''' oAi0 'oHo VI PiStuiCS VI ulSu-
cOlored tropical life are very attractive. We
have room but for single specimen. A "Fa-
zenda" in Brazil corresponds somewhat to one
of the great houses on the larger plantations
in our Southern States before the war Fa-
zenda life is thus described:
In the afternoon the hunters of the neighoor-
hood began to come in and tho party was
considerably enlarged. This Fazenda life, at
least on an informal .ovial occasion like this,
has fascinating touch of the Middle Ages in
it. / am ALWAYS reminded of this when we
assemble for dinner in the large dimly lighted
hall, where a long table, laden with game and
with large launches of meat, stands ready for
the miscellaneous company, daily growing in
numbers. AT the upper end sit the family
with their immediate guests below, with his
family, is the administrator whose office
suppose corresponds to that Of overseer on a
Southern plantation. In this instance he is a
large, picturesque looking man, generally
equipped in kind of grey blouse, strapped
around the waist by broad black belt, in
which are powder flask and knife with bugle
slung over his shoulder, slouched hat and
high top boots. During dinner q number of
chance cavaliers drop In, entirely without GER
emony, in hunters costume, as they return
from the chase. Then at night, or rather early
in the morning, for the Brazilian habit Is
early to bed and early to rise" in order to
avoid the heat, what jolltv and song, sounding
tue DuHltS iUuR DeIOr6 the udW0, tWanRlng the
guitar and whistling on the peculiar instru-
ment used here to call tho game. Altogether
it is the most novel and interesting collection
OF social elements, mingling after kind of
picnic fashion without the least formality
aud we feel every day how much we owe to
our kind hosts tor admitting us to an occasion
where one sees SO much of what is national
and Characteristic.
Almost the first novelty which the trave llers
encountered on landing was the slaves, and
the first view was Of a group of them dancing
fandango. To question TO the proprietor
OF an estate whether he owned or hired the
slaves: "'Own them,-a hundred and more
but 1t will finish soon,' he answered in his
broken English. Finish soon! how do you
mean?' 1T finish with you; aud when it finish
with you it finish here, it finish everywhere
He said it not iu any tone of regret or COM
plant, but rs an inevitable fact. The DEATH
note of slavery in the United States was its
deatb-note everywhere. We thought this sig
nificant and cheering" But the Professor
finds the influence of slavery, though 1t has re-
eeived mortal blow, still, to the highest de-
gree, perncious. The final chapter, containing
general observations on Brazil, seems to have
been entirely written by the Professor himself
lt closes thus: 80
trust have been able to show what
deeply feel, that there are elements of high
progress in Brazil, that il has institutions
which are shaping the country to worthy ends,
that it has a nationality already active show
ing its power at the present moment in carry
ing on one of the most important wars ever
undertaken in South America. The facts which
have come to my knowledge respecting this
war have convinced me that 1t originated in
honorable purposes, and, setting aside the sell
fish intrigues OF individuals inevitably con-
nected with such movements, is carried on
with disnterestedness. 1t deserves the sym-
pathy OF the civilized world, for it strikes at
tyrannical organization, half civilized, half
military, which, calling itself republic, dis
graces the name it assumes.
The book is very handsomely printed and its
value is enhanced by numerous engravings on
wood, from drawings, water color paintings
and photographs by members of ths exoedi-
tion.
For sale by Hall S Davis