Year: 1876




notable, as well the most important has been the
establishment OF silk mandatory and the intToduc-
ton Of silkworms from China and Europe One OF
the curiosities Of the exhibition allows US 10 watch
the development and progress Of a number OF
these industrious insects from the moment they
from the egg until they have completed their
cocoons Great expectations INDUCED in with re-
gard 10 this industry the climate said be very
favorable TO the growth OF the silkworm The quality
OF the silk fibre obtained from the Brazilian insect
compares favoraby with the similar grades Of Canton
hbres


INTERIOR PROVINCES


Tho immense interior districts OF hatto Crosse,
Goyoz and Mnas Geraes have little in the way Of manu-
facture TO merit attention. but rerdne they are rich
in useful minerals, hard woods and diamonds. Even
gold seems to be pretty widely distributed 1t is not
certain however that any OF the precious metals exist
in paying quantities For the most part the cost OF
extraction exceeds the value Of the mineral obtained
II is pretty we'll understood that mining op-
erations in so far at least as gold and diamonds
are concerned have ceased to be very remunerative
investments Judging by the number Of jaguar and
puma skins displayed by Matto Crosse that province
must be perfect hunters paradise but otherwise not
particularly attractive


AMERICAN SCIENCE


Biologists will be interested by series OF photo
graphic views illustrating the structure of the Pernam
buco stone reef the geological features of the vicinity
ofPernambuco and Of the San Francisco River besides
splendid views Of the great Brazilian cataract
Paulo Alfonso, all OF which 60 TO Philadelphia There
is also large collection Of rocks IRON the coast Of
Pernambuco and the Rio San Francisco, and number
OF beautifully preserved cretaceous fossils from
Pernambuco some corals and other radiates These
are the results OF preliminary exploration under
taken by Professor Hartt and Mr. 0rvie Derby Of
Cornell before the full organization Of the Geological
Commission corps. In q few weeks Professor Hartt
will take the field with large corps and will continue
the exploration of the coast provinces between Rio
Janciro and Pernambuco. II is 1atterng TO our
national vanity that this important scientific work has
been intrusled to Americans Considerable dissats-
faction is felt by the Brazilians account of the i'm
complete representation OF the native products and in
dustries and efforts will be made before the collection
is forwarded TO Philadelphia TO render it more thor
oughly representative.


BRAZILIAN NOTES.


The government has just issued a decree by which
anchorage aud dock dues abolished and replaced by
light due Of about two and onehaf cents ton to be
paid by all foreign vessels in every port entered except
they be than one of the province Regular
steam lines will pay only twice on each "Trip 1t also
increases TO fortyh five per centum the forty per cent
hitherto added TO the tariff duties on imports plea
Of making them equivalent to the gold value Of the
currency which currency has for months been at
par instead of aboshng the additional percentage
increased. This will be equivalent to
further custom house tax, the Brazilian value of
imported goods of about two centum on the aver
age. further clause doubles the heavy warehouse
rent upon nearly every article but dry goods


The demand for gold by hoarders still keeps gold at


small premium OF and quarter per cent although
the ratio OF exchange on London is two per cent and
upward in favor OF Brazil, and will probably rise TO
four per cent soon the uncertainty TO the re-
imposition of tax coffee In the United States is
moved and the accommodating coffee shipped and drawn
against In fact for the last four or five years the
balance OF trade between Brazil and foreign countries
has been largely in favor of Brazil, far the
ports and imports OF goods concerned the average
of the three last completed years having been
$780, 000 900 of exports against $3.50 0o0 900 Of i'm
ports


These figures do not OF course show the real state
OF the balance OF trade large sums OF money and
securities abroad annually TO meet the interest on
the foreign loans and the foreign capital invested in in
ternal loans ana in enterprises but 1t explains why the
rredeemabe currency of this country is practically at
premium OF two TO four per cent when turned into
foreign exchange. This feature Of Brazilian exchangeis
however almost wholly due to the trade with the United
States which take largely and send back little prod
But the return trade from the United States
fast developing and needs only proper accommoda
tion lines to its proper proportions
This accommodation the old company would not fur
nish and 1t TO be hoped the new companies will be
more liberal


The Iamport Holt line initiates with this packet
its monthly trips from Brazil to New York The Balti
King line steamer King Arthur will leave the
Both, and We may now hope that the annoying irregu
arity and intermssion Of direct communication arc at
end


The Vital dc Oliveira OF the three best corvettes
OF the Brazilian Navy is ABOUT TO start for the Pacific


voyage OF instruction, and is, If possible 60 San
Francisco The corvette Nitheroy and the corvette
Trajano to 60 escort of their Maestes 10 the
United States and perhaps the ironclad frgate Sete de
Setembro If the damage done TO her when launching
be repaired in time The Traano is built Brazil
lines OF novelty, and which appear TO furnish
advantage TO speed though the few yet built roll
verey. 1t is contemplated should the Vital de 0veira
duly at San Francisco, TO make exchange Of
officers overland.


on the 10th rain Of falling stars coming from the
southwest observed at midnight by the astrono-
mers OF the Rio observatory They engaged In q
determination of the obquty Of the ecptic when the
passage of the aeroltes noticed on the image
projected paper prepared with carbonate OF zinc.
Such phenomenon had not previously been recorded,
and Astronomer Lias enters into a detailed explana-
tion why II became possible for such small bodies to
become visible points OF light upon the sun image
projected the zncked paper. The passage lasted
time and therefore could be examined carefully.
In Bahia the bursting asunder of a sugar turbine
killed well known civil engineer, pr. Frederick do
Mornay, and two men, and wounded one OF the owners
OF the Jequai plantation, Mr.. John Webster.


In the Province Of Piauhy there is still living Bra
lillian lady OF 9S years Of age who has lost children,
Is grandchildren and 123 other descendants, but can
still gather around her 1853 descendants namely %
children 242 grandchildren, 865 great-grandchildr
and l23 great great grandchildren.