Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
4,5OO REFS FOR A SHIRT.
Still, These Enormous Sums Don't
Count for Much in Actual Value.
CUSTOMS THAT PREVAIL AT PARA.
Consul Kerbeys Interesting Experiences
at the Consulate.
ANEGRO MADE HAPPY THROUGH A sOSa
roonRrspoypEScE OF THE p1spArcH1

Vlously indicated IN this correspondence,
the trade and transportation, as we'll as
every other business in the Amazon Valley,
is dependent on the indigenous produce Of
its rich soil, i. e., rubber. 1t has been
shown that this crude article of commerce.
is, perhaps, next to the coin or bullion
which came from the early Californians,
the most valuable cargo afoat.
The United States absorbs two-thirds Of
this export. The British ship Ambrose,
carrying this mail, takes out an enormous
cargo, probably valued at $1,000, 900, the
handling ofwhich is probably confined to half
dozen American firms. The English and
Germans who have been long established
here, however, import more than two-thirds
of everything that is consumed by the la
borers connected with the business. In q
word, the balance of trade is against US, al
most two to one.
NOT DEVELOPING TRADE.
The large amount of American capital
and enterprise ably represented by few Of
| our countrymen is here to buy rubber for
cash only, and therefore may not be de-
/ pended upon to develop American trade in
this section. 1t has been the general e1-
| perience in the business of mining for ores,
oil and gas that these middlemen who did
the outside or general business of those
countries were the fellows that in the end
reaped greater benefits than the miner or
operator.
This is not only the hottest and unhealth-
lest, but also the most expensive, place in
the civilized world. In this regard it may
be compared to early life in the East oil ter
ritory, or pioneer experiences in the gold
and silver mines of the West. The retail
business, which is quite extensive, is all
done in five or six figures, as represented by
the Brazilian paper and nickel, bronze and
copper money. One of the coins of the old
monarchy, still in circulation in large guam
titles in the Amazon Valley, but entirely
disappeared from Southern Brazil, is an
enormous copper, worth about half penny,
| so heavy that do not care to carry it in
my pockets, but find it useful for paper
weights in the Consulate. There Is no
temptation to steal them, as nobody cares to
| be burdened with them.
BILLS BIG IN APPEARANCE.
They have bill here looking very much
| like greenback, that mas engraved in each
of its 1our corners, and on the margin and
back, the gratifying figures $780," which
at first touch gives its happy posessor quick
fash of the 'bloated bondholder" sensationJ
but, on experimenting with its purchasing
power, it "means business" only at about
25 cents worth. It bears the words "Quin-
hentos reis" and "Imperio do Brazil, " with
the likeness Of the 'late" Dom Pedro, now
Mr.. Pedro d'Alcantara, as still does almoss
all the paper money of Brazil; though the
silver and nickle coinage of the Republic,
is already in extensive circulation.
The other day 1 stepped into a shop and
succeeded, by deaf and dumb exhibit, in
making the Portuguese merchant under
stand that 1 wanted to buy some shirts. I
paid at the rate of 4, 500 reis for a Accent
shirt, or four and one-half times Its cost in
New York. As it takes from two to four
weeks for the leprous laundrymen or women
to do q days washing, quite q supply Of
linen is necessary IN this perspirtng
latitude.
THEY BORROW WHITE SHIRTS.
The delay in the washing is commonly re-
ported to be not entirely due to the laziness
of the laundress. 1t is sometimes quite con-
yenent for her husband and other members
of the family, who want to cut swell at .
festival, to extemporize one of the United
States Consul's white shirts for the evening
or the Sunday, as the case may be. In proof
of the accuracy of the story, the Methodist
missionary mere tells me that only one week
ago this evening at a prayer meeting in a
mud shanty in the suburbs of the city, q
laundress was present with her family.
One of the little urchins wore nothing ex-
cept large white bath towel about his
shoulders, while an older son, about years
old, had on nothing but a nicely starched
white shirt, which trailed IN the mud and
looked for all the world like the ones the
writer wears.
MY first laundry bill was also In five
figures, and not being as yet familiar with
the value of the money, was disposed to
resent it as an imposition, until my friends
laughingly interfered, when I set up the
"bug juice" and water for two, which was
taxed at 200 reis. This made me sick at
the stomach.
A RETIRING CoNsUL's JOKE.
This reminds me of the story told of de-
parting Consul and his "tenderfoot" success
sor, to whom he handed one of those tempt
ing looking 5000 bills Just as the former
was embarklng. Take this bill, said the
tender-hearted fellow, with sympathetic
tears in his eyes, "and settle with any OF my
creditors, who may call to see me after am
gone" and interrupting the receivers sug-
gestions as to amounts and disposition Of
balance remaining in his hands, he con-
tinued, "Oh, never mind sending me the
change; just set it up all around for the
boys" Recalling the value of the bill, %
cents, the joke will be appreciated.
attempted the same trick by sending one
to the genial Quartermaster of the Kit
Carson Post Of Washington, with q reques.
that he pay my dues, and set it up for the
crowd. I've not yet heard how much it cost
him.
PLENTY OF sAMENEsS.
am having some funny experiences In
rubbing against the manners and customs
of the people that help to vary and relieve
the terrible monotony of life in the tropics,
where the country is as fiat as the broad
ocean. the only scenery being the dense
to the very edge of the mighty Amazon.
The "leaves do not begin to fall" hera
Every day Is alike. There are no joyous
budding springtime, no invigorating au-
tumn, but all are melancholy days.
One of the customs that I cannot quite
adapt myself to is waiting for breakfast till
midday. The early mornings here are
simply glorious. love to rise with the sun
and enjoy a walk while it is cool and re-
freshing; but you cannot get anything but
''early coffee" which consists of q small
French cup of black coffee and Q piece Of
bread. have, however, made an arrange.
msnt hZ which I psy 500 rsia extra f0fA