Brazil

(brah-zeel',) an extensive empire of S. America, occupying a large proportion of the E. and central part of that continent, extending between Lat. 4° 30' N. and 33° S., and Lon. 350 and 70° W. Length from N. to S. abt. 2,600 m.; greatest breadth, 2,540 m. Its internal boundaries come in contact with all the different states and territories of S. America, with the exception of Chili and Patagonia; while the Atlantic Ocean washes its shores from its N.E. to its S. limits. The empire is divided into 20 pro vs., 14 situated along the coasts, and 4 in the interior. Area, 3,609,160 sq. m. Cap. Rio de Janeiro. Chief towns. Bahía, Pernambuco, Para, Maranham, and Ceara. Two parallel mountain ranges traverse the country from N. to S., forming elevated ridges of table-land, with a maximum height of abt. 7,000 feet. The N. part ofB. consists of the greater portion of the vast plain through which flows the river Amazons and its tributaries, varying in width from 350 to800 m., the soil of which is deep and soft, and covered for the most part with dense forests. The table-land on the W. is separated from the Andes of Bolivia by a large and extensive plain, traversed by those rivers which unite to form the Madeira; the elevation of this plain is from 1,200 to 1,500ft. The Paraguay, rising in a sandy and nearly barren desert called CampodesPareces,flows S. through a swampy country, and joins the Paraña. The Uruguay flows S. through another tableland of smaller dimensions to the plain of the Mi i ones. The climate of the Amazons is of a tropical nature; that of central and W. Brazil is more varied, the heat in the dry season being exce ive, while frosty nights are of frequent occurrence in winter. At Rio de Janeiro the annual mean of the thermometer is 77°. The country along the coast and the banks of some rivers, besides some extensive tracts in Minas-Geraes, have been brought under cultivation; but by far the greater portion of the surface remains in a state of nature. The dense forests furnish almost every variety of useful and ornamental timber, more than 100 species of palms, logwood, mahogany, Brazil, and numerous other dye woods, with sa afras, sarsaparilla, ipecacuanha, and a great variety of other drugs. Cocoa, caoutchouc, and manioc, are indigenous products; maize, sugar, coffee, cotton, rice, wheat, and tobacco, have been introduced by European culture; and the yerba maté, or Paraguay tea, is an abundant product of the W. pro vs. The animal as well as the vegetable products here present the greatest diversity. The diamond mines of MinasGeraes are at present the most productive known. Other gems, and large quantities of gold, besides silver, copper, iron, and platinum, are among the mineral riches of the same prov. Manuf. in B. are confined to cotton-weaving, tanning, and the production of goods of primary nece ity. Govt. and Relig. The constitution of B. dates from Dec. 11, 1823. It provides for the exercise of 4 powers in the State the legislative, exećutive, judicial, and " moderating" or the royal prerogative. The legislative power is exercised by a representative a embly, consisting of 2 houses, a Senate and a Congre ,both elected by the people. The executive power is vested in the emperor, aided by his ministers and a council of state. Roman Catholicism is the State religion, but others are tolerated. Finances. On Dec. 31, 1869, the public debt, including paper currency in circulation, amounted to $289,891,550; revenue, 1869-70, $42,551,250; estimated revenue, 1870-71, $29,250,000; expenditure $35,375,000. Mil. In the estimates for 1867-68, the standing army was stated to be 33,575 men. In May, 1867, the navy comprised 15 sailing-ve els and 46 war-steamers, the latter including 11 iron-clads, Hist. B. was discovered on the 26th Jan., 1500, by the Spaniards under Pinzon, one of the companions of Columbus. In the same year the Portuguese fitted out an expedition to follow up the succe ful discoveries of Vasco de Gama in the E., and finally took po e ion of the country in 1640. In 1822, the Prince Regent of Portugal was declared emperor, and in 1825 the independence of B. was acknowledged by Portugal. In 1831 the emperor abdicated in favor of his son Dom Pedro II., the present sovereign, and retired to Portugal. In Aug., 1864, a brief war broke out with Uruguay, and in the following Oct. one also with Paraguay, in consequence of the seizure by Lopez of a Brazilian war steamer. In 1865 an alliance was declared between B., Uruguay, and the Argentine Confederation against Paraguay; the events of which war will be found under the head of that country. Slavery was abolished byAct of the legislature, Sept. 21, 1871, with reference to negroes on the royal and ecclesiastical domains. The pop. of B. is made up of an agglomeration of many races. While B. remained a colony of Portugal, but few women accompanied the emigrants to S. America. The earliest European settlers intermarried and mixed with Indian women; afterwards an extensive intermixture of race occurred with the Africans who were bought into slavery. The mixed population increases continually and rapidly in B. In the northern pro vs. the Indian element preponderates. In S. B. the negroes are most numerous. The Indian pop. is estimated at abt. 200,000, a portion of whom, called Cabocloes, are in a civilized condition; the rest being in a savage and un reclaimed state. Total pop. 11,058,000. [s. 113]