Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-04
THE ExILED s%OUTHERNERS.

THE EXILED S0UTHERNERS.
Arrival of the HWataFR at Para,
BrasiI-Her welcome by she "Rsf.
ugees."
PARA, December 2, l875.-The United
States steamship Swstara arrived in this
port on the 30th of November. The
wharves were crowded with spectators
IS she sailed by Fort de Barrha into the
harbor, and several American vessels
lying at anchor quickly hoisted their
colors in recognition Of the flag flying at
her stern. The arrival Of so large a
msn-ofwar in this remote port is an
event Of lively interest and excitement,
and the 30th Of November was a sort of
gala day for the residents. Salutes we're
fred and the Consulate was visited BY
many anxious inquirers.
HISTORY OF THE SETTLERS.
Perhaps no more generous act has
marked these days Of reconciliation,
this era Of recognition of a common
nationality, which has outlived the as
perities Of civil war, than the sending of
q government vessel to q point distant
some 1000 miles for the purpose OF bring.
ing back Il their own land voluntary
exiles. >.
In order to understand thoroughly the
status Of these people wa must 20 back
to war times. At the close of "oar late
unpleasantness" quite a large number
Of people from the disafected States,
unwilling TO submit to the results of the
struggle, cast about for an abiding place.
Among the wealthy come few chose a
residence on the other side of the At
lsntic. a few Of those obliged to gain
a livelihood by their own exertions mi.
grated to Mexico, but the larger number
found their way to Brazil.
II is singular that Brazil should have
commended itself to these would be
refugees. The well,known liberal policy
of the present Emperor, Dom Pedro II,
had at an early date manifested itself in
his desire to promote foreign, and espe-
cially American, %emigrstion. Under his
patronage a t0ciety formed for the pur-
pose Of giving Encouragement thereto
fastened to paint in the highest colors
the attractions Of Brazil, aiding thereto
the more solid indu, 9ments of nee pass
age and grants Of land. How dazzling
was the prospect = thcle emigrants.
Before them lay a and, vast in extent,
rich in precious st)nel, possessing q
fertile soil, titled BY the same slave labor
TO which they bad become accustomed.
1t is not surprising then. that, gathering
toge her their goods and chattels, taking
with them their wives and children, full
Of hope Of making new homes and gain.
ing great fortrnes, some 500 citizens Of
the Southern States should have sought
this modern FL Dorado.
On arriving in Brazil the settlers natu-
rally sought various localities and divers
employments, the majority, however,
turning to agriculture or the raising OF
cattle. In this manner grew up several
American settlements.
sASTAREN.
The largest and most successful colony
was established at Santarem, on the
banks Of the Amazon river, some 500
miles from the sea. The town is the
most populous on the Amazon, Para
excepted, and yet has only some
5000 inhabitants, 30 sparsely set
tied is this section of Brasil. The Rio
Tapajos, n Of the main tributaries of
the Amazon, effects a junction with that
vast river at 5antsrem. Running through
q thousand miles of country, many Of
its products naturally find their way to
Santsrem. These, added TO the trade
coming from the Upper AMAZON, give
the place quite an export business, espe-
cially in cocoa andrubber. The climate
is delightful and the surrounding coun-
try, though not especially fertile, Is we'll
adapted tor cocoa plantations as we'll as
Tor the raising Of cattle. The original
American settlement at Santarem com.
prised 100 persons, but in tho course Of
a tey years the number 90 rapidly dimiu-
lehea that by 1868 only s~eyenty.6ye of
the original number remained. The fact
10, the emigraRts rapidly tired Of their
new country, and il We credit the oon-
mon report the country quite az quickly
of them. That some Of the settlers
could not have been lacking in either in.
dustry or perseverance, iS evident from
thelr success in new undertakings, more
particularly the making Of butter and
the growing OF sugar cane. On their
tsoles was spread the FIRST butter eyer
made IN the province Of Para, il having
been always previously believed that the
milk was Of too poor a quality for its
production.
Prior to their arrival, too, it had been
the practice for years to send 10 Para
Tor Sugst; but these Southern gentle
men have proved that the cane can be
grown as successfully in Brazil as in
Louisiana that though less sweet and
less juicy, it will, without cultivation or
transpiaatpg, yield for TIN or twelve
years. Some few o. tho settlers also met
with marked success IL raising tapioca
and casaca BRAZILIAN rum).
The general success OF the psyty had
been such, however, that on the arrival
Of the Swatara it was found that they
had availed themselves Of such oppof-
IN naNsaa a. -s-.- - IT, =