Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Waning to Emigrant Americans-Prof.
it's Of Bullhghting An Amer
lean Failure In Africa.
Especial Correspondence


ed Canadians who went to Brazil last
year through Misrepresentation made
by an emigration agent calls attention
anew to the folly of North Americans
going without capital into the countries
of South America.
For the benefit of those who constantly
write letters TO the state department in
quiring what Americans can do in Bra
iii without capital, but with "energy
and push, and as warning to INDECENT
people who are thinking Of emigrating
south, the state department has given
me the following information: No
Americans going to Brazil without the
means to maintain themselves while ac-
curing the language and seeking en-
ployment can have much chance of sue
cess A knowledge of the Portuguese
language is absolutely necessary to en-
able one to find employment. All the
commercial centers of Brazil have more
applicants than positions. Salaries are
small and living the most expensive in
the world Nearly everything consumed
there is imported and pays "a very high
import duty. Salaries paid clerks are
from $50 to $40 per month. The uncer-
tain and ever changing value of the
money has IA very injurious effect on
trade None suffers more from it than
he who works for wages, for, while the
cost Of living is made dearer by the
financial condition of the country, sal
aries undergo little or no change as the
money fluctuates in value
Yellow Fever and Death.
AS TO outdoor labor, no white Ameri-
can who exposes himself, as he would
be compelled to do, to the suns burning
rays and daily rains that fall there dur
ing the wet season could hope To escape
the yellow fever and perhaps death. 1t
is true, money Is plentiful, and the ex-
portation of natural products guarantees
permanent prosperity to parts Of Bra
iii; but no one can deal successfully in
rubber unless he has large capital
The competition among the rubber buy
ers is very great, and on that account
the business is surrounded with greater
difficulties now than formerly. In the
rubber field men without money can
play no part, unless they become rubber
gatherers, i'll which case they would
have ten chances for death against one
for life. On some of the rivers 90 per
cent of the natives die who go there.
Money In Bullnghting.
Reports of an effort to introduce bull
fighting in Il modified or humane form
on the southwest border are published
here, and with them the statement that
in some parts Of Mexico bullfighting
has been forbidden. Mexico, it will be
remembered, would not tolerate brutal
priZefight at the time it was cultivating
bullfighting But it seems to have seen
the error of its way. Bullfighting is as
popular as ever in Spain.
The Spanish legation here has reports
showing that during the latest bullfght
season, from April 8 to Oct. 90, 1896,
there were 47S bullfghts in Spain, and
1928 bulls, valued at $500, 900, and
8, 730 horses, valued at 5000 900, were
killed. The number of matadores, the
principal fighters who kill the bulls,
was %, and they were paid for their
services in all 329. 900 pesetas (about
1921, 500 The less renowned matadores
received from $500 to $400 for each
fight in which they took part, while the
most renowned received from $500 to
$3.50 The famous Guerrita appeared III
6S fights, killed Ia bulls, and received
in all $5l 900; Bombita fought 43 times,
killed ll2 bulls and was paid $2l, 900;
Mazzantini was in the ring 30 times.
killed 6S bulls and made $2l, 700. They
were the favorite matadores. Some on
ly appeared III the ring once or twice,
and they were those who received the
smallest remuneration. Ii cannot be
truthfully said that the interest in bull
fights is diminishing iii Spain. On the
contrary, it seems even more intense
than ever
An American Enterprise That Failed.
News has been received here about
concession granted some six or seven
years ago to an American to exploit the
pearl fisheries of the Bazaruto islands,
which are situated few miles from the
coast near Mozambique and about mid.
way between Inhambane and Beira
Bad management, lack of funds, heavy
expenses and political difficulties have
combined to kill the enterprise. The
Bazaruto Kaffirs, says our consul at
Mozambique, still continue to fish for
pearls; but as they roast the oysters in
stead of letting them rot, the pearls are
always more or less damaged by heat
The Bazaruto pearls, as well as few
that are obtained near the mouth of the
Rovuma, are shipped by the Indian
traders to Bombay and Zanzibar.
CARL SCHoFIELp