The New York herald., 1878-08-08
AFFAIRS IN BRAZIL.
Bahia the Religious
Metropolis.
CONDITION OF TRADE.
The Vampire Bats Of the
Great Empire.
BAHIA, Brazil, July Q, 1873.

In this country there nothing more Interesting 10
note than difference Of HABITS aud pursuits Of the
populations OF various cities on the east coast rha
results, perhaps from the diversity In daily occupa-
tions or means Tor obtaining subsistence. For In.
stance, the Paranese whom my last letters have
been devoted, arc u steady going, commonplace peo
pie near the ana in The interior Of the province
are ssmi.barbarous, with most OF the habits OF the
aborgines They gather rubber, lsh, huat u little
but are generally disnclincd TO work Tho Bahians
on the contrary are Industrious, civilized IN manner
extremely religious grow sugar cane, oranges ans
cocoanuts, the products OF their plantations being
shipped to all parts OF the world.
THE PIcTUREsQUE CITY
Next to Rio Janeiro Bahia Is the largest city IN
the Empire II Is distant from The capital 800 miles,
and approaching II IRON tho its picturesqusness
cannot well be exaggerated Imagine oil Dutch
tort at the entrance the open harbor from sea
relic OF the ownership and occupation In ancisn.
times OF the city by the Hollauders; above rect Of
rocks which skirts the town great commercial city
stretches out, long, low and snuous; rising from thf
avenue OF trade, which Is almost Tapped by the sea-
arc several irregular roads, which lined
with Indian huts and lead to the uppes
terraces, along which stretch milos OF
stately dwellings, oil white stone or faced
with coored tiles tho brilliant variegatod coors OF
which sparkle in the clear sunlight with rainbow
tdcades OF a hundred monastcrics aud holy housed
loom up in stately grandeur like lines OF upon
hilltop Add to this brief description Of nrst look
at Bahia from the that the city Is fairly shaded
and overshdowed by the spleudid and luxurious foil.
age OF tho tropics that here the eathery palm
It's graceful piumes, the rich leaved cocoanut and
mango yield their irut and that orange and lemon
trees the finest in tho world, stretch out into gardons
that skr. the convent walls, and some faint idea may
DO had OF Bahia, San Salvador
Whom our stately ship steamed into the har5or We
found Two English steamers there (Lampori & Holt
line) number OF German, Belgian ana Italian vcs-
sells, but, as usual not American flag waving save
from our own vessel The Kua da Praya is the priu.
cipsl street In the lower town. In this located
the Aifandega Custom Housc) and Of the large
mercantile houses. Some OF the trapiches (ware-
housesl very large In extent but there Is gen.
eral air OF there being more capacity for business
than business occupation. There Wide and
spacious market place, and the sesno here
Is full OF curious hustle. Tho natives have
for sale the most delightful fruits among
which must bo especially mentioned the largo and
fragrant oranges oil the country, which contain
seeds, the like Of which found nowh ere else n
Brazil This fruit Is delicate that its sxportaion
Is difficult. In tho market mentioned birds OF the
mos. beautiful plumage offered ior sale alongside
OF beans ana ricc monkeys and sugar cane; indeed,
everytbing Is xed up In the most incongruous way,
aud the clatter and noise OF tho natives who
are transacting business Is something quite
bcwidcring to stranger. Men
coming and going TO and IRON the upper
town with sugar 10 cases and various other burdens
suspended IRON hoops supported by their shoulders,
and tho native women most generally carry bags ana
parcels upon their heads. Numbers are observed to
be bradiug straw and fancy colored woois while not
few arc lying asleep In shady places. Tho palsn
quin carriers still Ia fashion III Bahia and near
every corner or place OF pubic resort long row Of
carsned cadeiras so called are ready for the servcs
u n
question:
RELIGIOUS METROPOLIS
Although cssbratca for connection IN past times
with tho slave trade, and having nous u0to.
riety on that account Bahia has for century OBJ
taned promi ncpcs az tho religious metropolis OF the
Empire. The residence OF the Archbishop u hero,
aud In all tho streets the proportion oil priests 10 Us
sosn 10 the other Inhabitants Is very arga The
churches and converts are old, but interesting and
butt upon grand pinns The superstition OF the icsz
Intelligent inhabitants aud OF tho lower classes gem
orally widespread The belief In miracles Is vcrv
sresl, and IN some OF the converts a is set
apart which are stored wax modss 0f human heads
arms and legs supposed to be correct copies OF DIS
esscd humanity cured, healed and made whole
through the nterpotion OF some patron saint OF tha
aii icicd person. 1t is said that large portion oi
the revenue OF the Church ID obtained IA Bahia
yearly from the contributions Of the superstitious
poor on Tits account. On what Is called Victoria
Hill q garden Vi enchanting beauty Ia found, aud
hero may be said 10 be about the only fashionable
promenade In the city, yot beyond TINS spot there
are hundreds OF houses OF noble proportions vacant
or only partially occupied giving SAD evidences oi
tho uecay OF a ouco noble city we'll a. the gem
eral sta nation OF business Ia Brazil
GLOOMY PicrrRs.
Mr.. Emilio Gonzales, a nercnant OF tho city, told
your spondent that during residence OF thirty
years the city had known trade be 20 &
aud depressed; the emiIsion OF paper nouey did
seem to have the effect OF Dnation people
werc dstrustiui OF the iuturs anu husoanding thoir
resources against time OF possible danger aud want
The country, said Mr.. Gonzales was never such .
poor state tho people have spccuiatcd ana in most
the Engish have ovcrrun Briz with schemes OF pub
lie improvements Tor which 10 most cases the gov
ernmcnt had to pay. We have bult railroads, ike
I'm fur OK al iuo -
wants or tho demands VI the country, and now we
have the sorry spectacle OF tho government trying TO
sell wuat may be called the only national road tDom
Pedro Ssgundol to foreign corporation, not bsing
able " run ~ with proper peont on Its capital them
se.vcs.
40 LIBEL LAWS
This gentleman also gave your correspondent some
very useui information ia regard 90 tue press. lie
sMu - eons'oer ono oi 'no greatcs' aniictioni
under which Bahiaus ana, indeed, all Brazlians. are
at prcsent aborhg IS due TO tho absolute license
tho newspaper press oil tue Emprc. In no country
with wbieh l am acquainted 10 such an absolute
power vested IN the press Brszii. There 10 ne
libel law, aud can publish. bv paying tho price u
the editor, any infamy against you your family
only holding myself liable 10 personal responsibility
VI course, this can be cvuded by = sneaKtng o
cowsrdiy man, and scandals thus 10 di.scminatcs
broadcast throughout the country, the old axiom
holding good that :. lie Will run league while truil
10 putting ON boota'"
Being urged BY the writer to expross his views io
the HERALD In regard to the possibility OF tho Amcrk
cans ia their new enterprise o comneros, competin1
with the English, senior Coz zass ssid:si have nc
doubt that with the same patience and Industry al
the Engish bavc SHOWN IA cstsblisnlug relations
with this country your people will be equally
successful Tnc Emperor Is personally frfcudiy 10
your enterprises aud Nj. John koach IN
putting on his spsndd steamers has done
noble WORK; but thc mistake the Amcri-
cans mako ~ TO suppose thsy can come down hero
with lev thousands OF collars, command q trade,
make rapid fortune and retire. TINS cannot be
done Merchants are as wide awake here la otber
parts oil the world, aud composition 10 just as active.
For ins.ancc Que OF your young men brought cut
from the states a few hundred barrels oi hour the
other day We needed Hour Ia this port, and accord.
ing TO the current quotations there should have been
profit TO the American OF ovor 81 a barroi The
minuto u was known that hour IN any quantity was
here the resident merchants put down thur prices bo
low those at which your countryinan could SELL sup
piied The bakers with what thoy wanted their
terms, and the result was tho young Hour merchant
from the States had to sell his stock the naive
dealers, and suppose at toss So, you perceive, 10
Is not all plan sailing IN Brazil"
VAMPIRE BAIs
! Probably no part oi the Empire is more afnioted
than n portion OF tne province OF Bahia with ths
scOurss OF vampires Whole herds of cattle