The Ely miner., 1933-05-26

the quarter century Of Dutch occupa-
tion that began ten years after the Pill
grims landed on Plymouth Rock.
Until few years ago, large ocean
going boats had to anchor far out in
the harbor. Up-to-date docks were
constructed and railroads were built,
reaching into the productive hinter-
land. AS a result, Pernambuco has be-
come in a short time one of the impor-
tant gateways to eastern Brazil.
Sugar, tobacco, lumber, fruit, cotton,
rubber and coffee that once graced the
backs of mules, now flow into the city
by rail in vast quantities. More than
forty sugar mills in the capital city
attest the states sugar production.
Textile mills, shoe, soap and lock fac
tories are also there.
Most of Pernambuco's business Is
carried on in the old section of the
city. The city market perhaps strikes
the fancy of Americans more than any
other feature. An abundance of rich.
luscious tropical fruit is everywhere
to be seen. On the ground are great
piles of pineapples, alligator pears,
melons and mangoes Of enormous size.
In contrast to many South American
markets, Pernambuco has no noisy
vendors.
Bahia Has Fine Harbor.
Bahia, which contributes about $780,
600 to the census figures, was the first
Portuguese settlement founded in Bra
zil. To Brazilians it is Sac Salvador.
According to the letters of Amerigo
Vespucci, he and his followers spent
several months in All Saints bay in
the neighborhood Of Bahia during the
early years of the Sixteenth century.
Bahia was not officially recognized by
the Portuguese government, however,
until 1549 when the first governor gen.
eral Of Brazil set up colonial govern
ment there. Bahia was the capital Of
Brazil from that time until 1763 when
the government was removed to Rio
de Janeiro.
The harbor Bahia faces is one of the
finest on the east coast of South Amer
lea. Vessels from many world ports
are anchored offshore, while smaller
boats with local cargoes come and go
like schools" of water beetles.
The travellers first impression of
Bahia, as he sails up the harbor to-
ward the city, is that there are really
two separate towns.
ht,o ha
shore line, while on cliff in the back
ground, 200 feet above the roof tops,
the fringe of another settlement Is
visible.
In the narrow streets of the lower
town and among the bordering ware
houses half-naked porters, perspiring
freely in the tropical heat, spend their
days moving cargoes Of cocoa, tobacco.
cotton, sugar, rubber and fruits, all
products of Bahia state, brought to
the port by railroad trains and high
wheeled donkey carts.
The customs house, depot and Offices
of foreign firms interested In Bahia
commodities also are in the lower
town. Most of Bahia's cocoa, the larg-
est exportable product of Bahia state,
is shipped to the United States.
Upper Bahia is reached by elevators,
steps and winding roads. Here and
there in the narrow streets of this por-
ton of the city, sky blue and delicate
pink houses, some of whose plastered
fronts are deeply pock-marked, take
the traveller back a century or two in
Bahias history. But within stones
throw of these districts there are wide
modern thoroughfares. lined with fine
shops, banks, theaters, Office and gov.
ernment buildings. A park or gar
den now and then breaks the monotony
of the solid rows Of masonry.