The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-21
AMERICAN COLONIES IN BRAZIL.

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Return Of Disappointed Exilcs-No Country
Like Hail OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of the
Coi0nists.
Through the kindly consideration OF the United
States government in the person OF Rear Admiral
Davis OF the South Atlantic squadron, the United
States steam frigate Guerrero which arrived in the
lower bay last Sunday evening from RIO Janeiro,
brought back to their welcome homes forty-six Of
the American coonists who started after the close
OF the war TO found a settlement in Brazil and to
build up the fortunes OF that promising empire.
These exiles from Columbia's happy land
have had the largest surfeit OF foreign travel
OF any class OF people that ever started
for other fields and pastures new Sick unto death,
indeed, did they become or Brazil and Brazilians,
and countless signs were waited on the southern
breeze towards these northern ATTITUDES for the COM
forts Of civilization left so iearfuy far behind out
OF the depths OF these Parana forests many prayer
went up for help and rescue from the lips OF the
poor, broken down, sold and sorrow laden emf
grants. They went out with hope glowing on pic
ture OF measureess acres In meadows and corn
fields OF green and yellow, Italian skies, tropical
vegetation, diamonds sparkling In the bed OF every
brook, gold dust manuring the soil OF every potato
patch, numerous and docile slaves; In fact wealth
health, easy living and arcadian happiness was sup
posed to be the blessed lot Of every Brazilian Yes
terday afternoon being cool and pleasant, the re-
turned tlibe OF wanderers found deep and heart
felt Joy, gazing from the deck Of the Guerrero
across tine water at Staten Island thousand little
pictures OF home delights, to which they have been
strangers 80 long, came cr0wding back upon their
fancles. The neat white porch, with the trelllsed
vine and the trim garden plot in 'front.' down by the
sandy beach, awakened among many some very
dear associations OF other days for among these
fortunate exiles were some who enjoyed
OF nd uyh fQlf
and culture taught them an appreciation OF the
artistic ana beautiful. All wore an expression OF
intense delight at finding themselves once more
within the sheltering shadow of Uncle Sans big
forts, but more than all at finding themselves so
near the soil OF sacred freedom and civilization
Considering the physical ana mental sufferngs the
cooniss underwent in their abortive effort to build
up themselves and the empire OF Brazil, they cannot
be said to look much altered, though considerably
brOnzed and weather-beaten by exposure TO the ele
ments. DR.. George w. McDade, OF Montgomery,
Ala, was among the crowd, and may be remembered
as having started with number or cOl0nists to Rio
JaneirO In 1867. He was leader, and an active one
too; but, spite OF all his energy and knowledge, his
indomi1able pluck and self.denal, he broke down In
the effort to plant sugar successfully.
Other passengers from the South were, John Bax-
ter, wife and children. Mississippi Mrs. 8. A. DAVIS
New Orleans; ". q. Davis, louisiana; Jonas Young,
Mississippi; Joseph Parcher, wife and children, Port
Royal n. G. From the North were W. F. Hines and
wife, Mary JudsOn Alvina and children, Albany;
George and Peter Wolf and wife, New York city; w.
b. COxxin, Baptiste CharlOn and Wm Walker, New
wiie and children, Boston; julia Il. and Mary l..
CLIFFORD, New York city; three colored men named
Taylor Boston; VIM. Brophy and Jesse Andrews,
Brooklyn; Francis, Caroline and VIM. Layton, New
Thus il will be seen that the North had as many
spirits It's population ns as The
that those from the North left without any means
and because they were too lazy to work at home,
while those from the South had ample pecuniary
supplies and fed this country from such like mo-
tives as animated the ship load OF Puritans
In flying from the tyranny OF Charles ,. |.
many decisions about federal tyranny and
1t was gravely suspected they went to Bra
I'll because niggers were cheap and abundant.
They are quite content now to live under the Stars
and Stripes, and express themselves better satisfied
10 pitch their tents on any portion OF the widest
and least tenanted lands or America than pass
another day the best soil OF Brazil. The first in
stament OF Southern emigration to Dom Pedros
letters were written back, which induced party OF
about 100 from different States OF the South to emil
crate. About the summer OF 1855 there might nave
been 800 southerners scattered In colonies between
Rio Janeiro and Portaegre. At this time
the government OF Brazil, duly impressed
few Americans that had already put in
an appearance, started the idea of inducing emigra
ton from Northern States OF farmers, mechanics
ana other such people as would contribute to de
velop the resources Of the empire. Free passage
and almost boundless acres were to be granted tt
each emigrant, transportation for all articles Of
household furniture, agricultural implements, &C.
board and lodging upon arrival for twenty days
transportation 10 any pTOVluCe BrdZlS WHERE
lie might choose to SETTLE giving I'VE years In which
to repay the obligation The thing took Immensely
Three hundred emgrants per month left tins
port and thousands more were prepared to follow.
This went on swlmmingy for nearly nine months
and then complaints came lmping along from
various parts Brazil that matters were not they
were painted and that everything from the Amazon
down. was cOnfounded humbug. This checked
the spirit OF emigration, and finally 1t died out en-.
trey. The class of people, however, who went at
this time were for the most part OF very imagtna-
tive turn OF mind, very much averse to hard work
and in the majority OF instances without either a
stake or q beefseak in the country 1t mattered little
to them where they went but they had an idea that
the Amazon or some other big river IN the Brazils
would float them up to the fountain head OF fortune
The provinces OF Rio Grande do Sui and San
Catharina were penetrated by the first Southern
emlgrants and settlements founded on the river
Taquary and in the valley OF the Sierra Gera. These
colOnists that came back in the Guerrero were
some in the province OF Parana and Others in the
Rio Grande do Sui, besides few that penetrated
through Mlnas Gerdes and Mato Crosse All agree
In stating That Brazil is an excellent country to
10 emgrate to. After landing at Rio the
emigrants from the North here who had no
money OF their own were sent by steamer
to villa Nova or Deserro and turned over 10 the ten
der mercies OF contractor, who staked them out
$50 acres and sad literally snake all you can
out OF that and pay Inc by instruments IN five years..
The land was In all cases wild and primitive as
at the dawn Of creation, and in place OF striking the
soil first with mis- shovel the intrepid pioneer from
| America founa he mad to dig through a layer of
| rattlesnakes before reaching mother EARTH lie
found great unwledy trees, with their tangled rot
ting branches locked overhead ana their trunks hung
| in veil OF Shiny parasites The ground covered
| with the rudest and coarsest tropical vegetation,
| horrid stagnant pools on the verge Of every
wood, and damp fetld gloom pervading all the forest
! asles, even in the blazing light of MONDAY TO a
million acres Of such land as this, relieved here and
there by stretch of barrep prairie, the emigrants
came 70 found those cheerful homes, each woman's
I f5fySf Was 50 APT 70 picture, and women enough
were with the party to lend it, so TO speak, the charm
Of romance. They started for their new location
scenery around the that their dreams OF an Arcadia
| might after all be delusive Not human being fol
| hundreds of miles, not familiar sound IRON
| pralre land OF forest, not solitary cottage
| 10 be seen, while deeper and deeper they
MERGED into this unknown and trackless land, with
| its awful forests ana It's oppressive pralries IT'S
strange Zoology and ornithoogy, Its everything dis
| u,allv odd and novel.