The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-14

The English also tried TO take possession,
but the Portuguese finally conquered. and
Bahia is a Portuguese Brazilian city to-
day. II Is q city OF considerable culture.
IL has some OF the best schools of Brazil,
and the people pride themselves upon It's
medical colleges and hospitals The coun-
try about ii II but little ssttied. and not
much developed and in the future 1t will
probably have much larger population.
Americas Dollars for Vest buttons.
I see many American gold dollars here
In Bahia. They are used by the swells
for buttons on their white vests and are
away above par. Our consul tells me tina;
there are something like 1000 so used
here. The people are crazy for them.
The black women want them for chains.
charms and bangles. and they are espe.
csaiiy I'm demand 10 he hung around the
waists Of newly born babies. These coli
ored people have an idea that such charms
bring good luck. The poorer babies have
silver hung about their waists, and nearly
every little boy see on the street has a
string of charms about his neck or loins.
although he haA - a rule. nothing else.
Speaking of coins. all kinds OF hard
money are at q premium In Bahia. Even
the niekeis which you md in Rio and fur.
Their south are not common. Their places
are taken by street car tickets. elevated
railroad tickets ana private shnplasters
You sec gold and silver only in the win
dows OF the banks or on the counters OF
the money changers The bank notes in
circulation are those Of Brasil. which ars
In denominations OF thousands OF refs II
now takes loo refs 10 make Is cents OF
our money but exchange GOES up and
down every day. and many people make
money in speculating on exchange.
our worthy consul. DR.. Furnies. tells me
that he has tried a. but that he Will try Il
no more. How he came TO do 10 was
by the visit OF the Oregon on It's way
around the continent 70 engage In our
war with Spain. During Its trip II
stopped at Bahia, and it's commander ca
bled from here 20 Washington. The Ore
gen carried with It for expenses 10000 in
50 gold pieces. IL took tao to pay for
this cable. and the commander gave ten
double eagles 20 DIR Furnise 10 pay the
cable fsil He could not reast the tempt
ing look Of the yellow coins. and 20 ne
put them in his poke. ana paid the bin
In Brazilian money holding the gold for a
rtse As soon as the Oregon left how
ever exchange began 10 20 down. II
continued to fail uatii now he Will have 10
sell ss5 more gold 10 get as much Brazilian
cash as he paid for the cable. He ssii
hae the gold. but as his board ard wash
bills are payable in Brazilian bank notes
he IS JUST 10 snort
American Trade.
And just here I want 20 say a WORT
about this American consul - Bahia. He
is a coiore6 man from Indianapolis who
wn appointed hy freslden. Mckinley.
He ls well educated and has made an ex
ceiienE impression here He SENS TO un-
desstsnd his business ard IS tsing as well
fer American trade AZ any consul I hSva
ret on this trip. Hs ts'is me much the
sasnc story have heard everywhere.
There In glentw ef business fer Amer
cars Down asre II they will conform 20
the customs ard send 5own Elsa 20 tight
for show They must not expect to geg
much the arst year bat the results ~sli
pay In the end one German commercial
one Visit ga; % Bahia las; year Tass
WAS his third trio. The arw vass, dst not
ray AZ all. during the second he dia h*,-
ter, and now be thinks Re has sure thing
fer years 20 come
Cers~sl TSsrnl.s tells ne THAI there are
very few failures IN BAHIA. He SAYS tas
business men wfii ret pay cash. but that
snesr bills are good He also repeats
~ha. I have stated before. tina; {; is M
uw to sena commercial travellers down
here aas~ss tssey sc<ak Spanish or Portsi-
gaese anss asn 'Aas they must not expect
10 80 mach snors than make sccaaintArces
TIE arss year our business men must ~
member that they are working for the
trade az q continent. ara thar such t-a..
cannot - ~hsstissf gp IKE h sox Cree
gotten. however. II will b. easily hess a.
IRE Sesssa AfnsEscan merchants 30 no. ike
10 charge
FRANK u. CARPENTER