IN WEIRD BRAZIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1447, 23 May 1912, Page 3

IN WEIRD BRAZIL.

FOR TWELVE MONTHS. HOW A COLONIAL FOUND IT. (Br Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, May 21. An interesting glimpse of life in Brazil as experienced by a young Aueklaiulcr was given to. a "Herald" reporter l).v Mr. W. I!. Dick, formerly of OtaJuinu, who has returned to Auckland alter spending nearly a vear in Brazil 'Brazil' would be a good country under the union Jack, but, as a Republic, the least I can say is that things arc very bad there," remarked Mr. Dick, the country is enveloped in a decidedly foreign atmosphere, and the communities of the cities are composed of mixed crowds of Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians, Frenchmen, and a comparatively large proportion of Englishmen. Corruption. Corruption is rampant, according to Mr. Dick. After having secured a firm hold on the Government, it has snroad to every branch of service and industry in the country, and, so long as (ho present Administration iemains in power, there appears to be no prospect of the affairs of the country being conducted on a fair and honest bni-is. "There appears, however, to be a wave of reform on the horizon," said Mr. Dick, "but it is the custom of the troops to support the party in power, and "it will bo necessary for the Oppositionists to vanquish the troops before attacking the Government. "Another bad feature about Brazil is the prevalence of plague, yellow fever, smallpox, and other dangerous maladies. During the summer in many of the towns deaths occur at the rnio of about 50 a day, but such tilings were of too common a. nature to attract special attention. A contributing cause to this bad state of affairs is the insanitary systems of many of the towns. "This problem, however, is being grappled with by the authorities, and in Pernambnco, Bahia, and Mauaos steps have been taken to destroy the unhenltny quarter.s. In the past thdse towns havn been veritable hot-beds of disease, and it is only the alertness of the municipal authorities that lias saved liio, ban Paulo, Santos, and Curityba from falling into a similar state. At the height of of the hot seasons numbers of vessels arc frequently forced to remain in port owing to seamen falling victims to plague or fever. Vendettas and the Knife. "The knife and the pistol—especially the knife—are used in Brazil where the colonial uses his fists," said Mr. Dick, "and, if two men quarrel, the trouble is generally put to a prompt end by a murder. Almost every morning the papers tell of a murder or some serious crime." Mr. Dick was also impressed with the inadequate Judicial administration. "There are," lie added, "men all over the country who carry on a trade in bloodshed—men who will murder a fellow citizen if a client offers an attractive reward." He instanced cases when men, convicted of murder, merely received sentences ranging from 18'nionths' to five years' imprisonment. Board—£4 Per Week. The high cost of living in the towns of Brazil was also dealt with. Mr. Dick said that, although very high wages were paid in all professions, it had to bo remembered that the high cost of living demanded the apparent glitter of a large salary. He had paid £4 a week for board and lodging similar to that procurable in Auckland for lfe. or .£1 a week. A suit of clothes costs .£lO, an ordinary-straw hat 135., and English boots £2. Mr. Dick, however, thinks that the majority of English people in Brazil are prosperous, and, although there are many signs of poverty, he does not think that families suffering from starvation can be. found.