The States of Parana and Ceara, 1914
"Parana which adjoins Sao Paulo on the south and has a small seaboard, is the great herva mate producing State. It is remarkable that the tea and coffee States should…
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From Brazil and the Brazilians by George James Bruce, 1914.
Parana which adjoins Sao Paulo on the south and has a small seaboard, is the great herva mate producing State. It is remarkable that the tea and coffee States should adjoin. Herva mate is the Brazilian tea many million pounds of which this State exports every year. The State of Parana is bounded on two-thirds of its western side by a great river bearing its name, which ranks second in importance amongst the rivers of Brazil. This huge waterway drains an area computed to be greater than that drained by any river in the world except the Amazon, Ob’, Mississippi, and Congo Rivers.
Parana is a mountainous State with many plateaux and rivers. The climate is temperate, with occasional falls of snow in the winter. A feature of the State's communication facilities is the number of good roads found here. There are also railway and steamer transport services. The population of the State is about 400,000. The capital Curityba is an extremely healthy city with a population of 50,000. The Government has had a good deal of success with the foreign settlement schemes it promotes. Amongst the industries are fruit-growing, agriculture, stockraising, lumber, and mining. Gold, diamonds, copper, iron, and coal have been worked. There are good seaports and several rapidly growing towns in the State.
Ceara on the north coast has a seaboard of 435 miles with three ports. The State has a population of about a million. The capital is Fortaleza, with 70,000 inhabitants, on the coast. Other towns of importance in the State are Sobral, Granja, Baturite, Iguatu, Camocin, and Quixada. Near the latter town there is a gigantic reservoir constructed by the last Emperor, designed and built for him by a British engineer. This, one of the greatest works of its kind in the world, is intended to irrigate the plains below it. Droughts have hindered the development of these plains in the interior of Ceara, but water conservation and artesian-well boring are rapidly overcoming the drawback.
Two railways, one of which crosses the country from the coast to the frontiers of Pernambuco and Piauhy, open up the State to commerce. The climate on the coast is trying, but extremely pleasant back on the mountains. One of the peculiar industries of Ceara is the collection and export of carnauba wax gathered from a species of palm. Maniçoba seringa, cotton, sugar, and cocoa are also exported. Cattle-raising is a great business in the State, its herds numbering millions. Gold and other minerals are found, but have not so far been much exploited.
The Cearenses are a very hard-working people, who, unfortunately for their State, have transferred their activities to the Amazon forests, leaving the work of Ceara to those not so energetically inclined. The State gets however considerable benefit from the earnings its absent sons send home. In Fortaleza there may be found many of the old barons of Empire times and their descendants. Educated and cultured gentlemen, they have influenced and kept high the social tone of the community.
Bruce, George James. Brazil and the Brazilians. Dodd, Mead and Company, 1914.
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