The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-08-28

A Ansssna Usoo - - AnansnA
~ shoGasR RaDa l.aA
If ten American travellers veze asked to
give their impressions Of Brazil, Ne should
hear ten different opinions, grading all
the way from enthusiasm to despair. And
l suppose that Braziiians, travelling in
the United States. get just a. diverse i'm
pressions OF the country and its people.
When anybody asks me If Brazil il .
good field for the American mechanic,
farmer. merchant. can only answer:
That depends entirely upon the man.
The country is what It is: but you or I
describe it impetectly, because We see it
only from our particular angle Of vision:
We Judge Of il ~ we have treated it veil
or i'll. And after all, our pretty theories
are Of small value; what IL needed is the
experience Of practical men
An American gentleman, Mr.. X. j.
Rhome, for many years had theory that
the Amazonian highlands were fitted for
successful farming. So he came here
with his family, took the managing part
nership Of Brazilian plantation. and put
his theory into practice. At the end OF
twelve years, the estate has become the
finest on the Amazon, and American en-
terprise has built up an American home.
To US, who have been three days tedi-
ously canoeing across the river valley,
against contrary winds and strong cur.
rents, broiled by the sun all day, and tor
tured by MOSQUITOES at night, 1t Is small
wonder then that Taperinha seems like q
haven of rest. Mr. Rhome stands on the
bank waving his broad-brimmed hat, and
welcoming US as we land with stout
American grip. Friend Of four year,
standing, or stranger Of to-day, it is al
the same to this OVERLOOKING hospitality
so We are seized and marched of TO the
house, where we get another greeting
from kind Mrs. Rhome and the bright
eyed, healthy children. The house-ser
wants scrambled TO prepare room fer Us
and three or four negroes hurry down q
the canoe for our luggage. The bath fol
lows, Of course: DIP in such cold hnpit
water IA w. haveseidom seen in the trop
les; and Mr.. Rhome has bathing hous.
where you can swim In the cement-linet
basin. and take shower Of one hundred
gallons a minute. Then we sit down Il
bountiful table. whereofever dish Is th'
product OF the plantation, or OF the sur
rounding woods and streams; even th'
wine, equal TO most grapevine, Is mad,
from native Caju fruits, and our after
dinner cigarettes are Of fragrant Taper
inha tobacco.
When our host came here the planta
ton was managed in the old narrow Por
tugese style. saving cent and losing
dollar; much labor was wasted for wan
Of proper superintendent. and the pro
portion OF cultivated land vas very small
Since then improved machinery has beer
introduced; the great cane-6eld has beef
widened year after year, and the plov
has turned up rich black land that ha.
not seen the light for centuries. The es
tate. Joint property Of Mr.. Rhome and tn
Baron Of Santarem, is measured not b
acres, but by square miles. There ar
highland for ests and lowland pastures
lakes stocked with fish and turtle. an,
streams with water enough 10 turn heav
mills.
In the tile-covercd miil-house, half
dozen stalwart negroes are employed Il
feeding the great cane mill, and carry
ing away the crushed refuse. At Erere
we saw the Indian mill-a pair Of squeak
ing wooden rollers, turned by four me
at an immense expenditure Of breath an
muscle. Elsewhere they have large
and more elaborate wooden mills. turne
by horsepower, and few Of the bette
plantations boast Of iron ones. made j
the southern provinces. But Mr.. Rhom
assures US that his American mill has 81
fected saving Of at least twenty-five ps
cent. over the Pernambuco machine tba
was formerly used here: and Of course III
daily grinding can be greatly increase
with the capacity Of the rollers. At pre-,
ent, most Of the cane-juice is distilled int
rum, which commands ready sale alon
the river. Mr.. Rhome has introduced in
proved sugar-evaporators, and he believe
that sugar-making will prove very prof.
able.