Year: 1876




notable as well as the most important has been the
establishment Of silk mandatory and the intToduc-
ton Of silkworms from China and Europe One OF
the curiosites OF the exhibition allows US 20 watch
the development and progress OF a number OF
these industrious insects from the moment they
issue from the egg until they have completed their
Great expectations are INDUCED in with re-
gard 10 this industry the climate is said be very
favorable to the growth OF the slkworm The quality
OF the silk fibre obtained from the Brazilian insect
compares favorably with the similar grades of Canton
hbres


INTERIOR PROVINCES


The immense interior districts OF hatto Crosse,
Goyoz and Mnas Gerses have little in the way OF manu-.
facture to merit attention but repd they are rich
in useful minerals, hard woods and diamonds. Even
gold be pretty widely distributed 1t is not
certain however that 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 well understood that mining op-
erations in so far at least 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 win be interested by series OF photo





buco reef the geological of the vicinity
Of Pernambuco 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 from the coast of
Pernambuco and the Rio San Francisco, and number
or beautifully preserved cretaceous fossils from near
Pernambuco, some corals and other radiates. These
are the results of a preliminary exploration under
taken by Professor Hart and Mr.. orville Derby, of
Cornell before the full organization OF the Geological
Commission corps In 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 1t is 1attering 20
national vanity that this important scientific work has
been intrusted to Americans. Considerable dissatis
faction is felt by the Brazans account of the in
complete representation OF the native products and in
dustries and efforts will be made before the collection
is forwarded to Philadelphia render it thor
oughly representative.


BRAZILIAN NOTES.


The government has just issued decree by which
anchorage and dock dues abolished and replaced by
light due of about and one-haf cents ton, to DO
paid by all foreign vessels in every port entered except
they be more than one of the province. Regular
steam lines will pay only twice each "trip 1t also
increases TO forty five per centum the forty per
hitherto added to the tariff duties imports plea
OF making them equivalent to the gold value OF the

par but instead OF aboshing the additional percentage
II Is increased. This increase will be equivalent
afurther custom house tax on the Brazilian value of
imported goods, of about two per centum on the aver
age. further clause doubles the heavy warehouse
rent upon nearly every article but dry goods.


The demand for gold by hoaTders still keeps gold at
q small premium OF one and quarter per cent, although
the ratio OF exchange London is two per cent and
upward in favor OF Brazil and will probably rise TO
tour per cent the uncertainty TO the re-
imposition of tax coffee in the United States
moved and The accumulating coffee shipped and drawn
1rin In Ff for ThA Inst five In
balance OF trade between Brazil and foreign countries
has been largely in favor of Brazil, as far as the ex
ports and imports OF goods are concerned the average
Of the three last completed years having heen
$780, 10000 of exports against $780, ooo 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 go abroad annually TO meet the interest
the foreign loans and the foreign capital invested in in
terna loans in enterprises but 1t explains why the
irredeemabe currency OF this country is practically at
a premium of two to four per cent when turned into
foreign exchange This feature of Brazilian EXCHANGES
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 a
fast developing one and needs only proper accommoda-
ton from steam lines to assume its proper proportions
This accommodation the old company would not fur
nish, and 1t is to be hoped the new companies will be
moro liberal


its monthly trips from Brazil to New York The Balt-
more King line steamer King Arthur will leave the
30th and may now hope that the annoy ing irregu
larity and ntermssion OF direct communication at
end


The Vital dc oliveira OF the three corvetes
OF the Brazilian Navy is start for the Pacific
a voyage OF instruction. and is II possible 20 to San
Francisco. The corvette Nitheroy and the
Traano are TO go as escort of their MJestes TO the
United States and perhaps the ron-cad rgate See do
Setembro II the damage done 10 her when launching
be repaired In time The Trajano is built on Brazil
ian lines OF novelty, and which appear to furnish
advantage speed though the few yet built roll
verely 1t is contemplated should the Vital de 0vera
arrive duly at San Francisco to make exchange Of
officers overland.


On the 10th OF falling stars coming from the
southwest observed Al 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 aerotes was noticed the image
projected paper prepared with carbonate of zinc
Such phenomenon had not previously been recorded
and Astronomer Lias enters into a detailed expana-
tion why 1t became possible for such small bodies TO
become visible points OF light upon the image
projected on the zncked paper. The passage lasted
time and therefore could be examined carefully.


In Bahia tho bursting asunder of sugar turbine
killed well known civil engineer, pr. Frederick do
Mornay, and two men, and wounded one OF the owners
OF the Jequitai plantation, Mr.. John Webster


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