The German Element in Brazil Part 2

has been the watchword here as well as throughout all other walks of life in Brazil.

If we restrict ourselves to estimate, among the total of Brazilian citizens, those of any particular European origin, the difficulty increases. Here the census reports offer practically no help because all persons are listed simply as Brazilians, no reference being made as to their origin.

The primary sources in making up the estimates are furnished by the immigration reports as they are found in the "Ministerio da Agricultura"

in Rio and the "Secretaria da Agricultura" of several individual states.

Even here the statistics are inadequate for our purpose. As a rule only such colonists as came in third cla.s.s on s.h.i.+ps from Europe are listed.[37] In addition, it is impossible to determine how many colonists came by land (indirect immigration) from adjoining South American countries such, as Uruguay, Paraguay or Argentine.

The secondary sources, and the ones which in this instance are most valuable, are embodied in the estimates of former colonial directors and other officials, as well as private persons having first hand knowledge concerning the different European elements in Brazil.

The official data offered by the Bureau of Statistics of the "Ministerio da Agricultura" in Rio concerning immigration directly from Europe begins with the year 1820. That concerning immigration from Germany in particular begins with 1827. Official figures are available as to the number of immigrants from Germany from that date to the present excepting the years 1830-1836 inclusive, 1838, 1839, 1843, 1844, 1846, 1848 and 1849. The total is 128,233 up to the end of the year 1915.[38]

In order to determine the approximate numerical value of the German element in the population of Brazil, many estimates worthy of consideration have been compared. The estimates which in the opinion of the writer have the strongest claim to accuracy, are listed below. As will be seen, those determined upon by Friedrich Sommer, _Direktor_ of the "Banco Allemo Transatlantico" of So Paulo are largely followed.

This authority has for years been making a careful study of the subject and consequently his conclusions bear particular weight.

Taking up the states in the order as previously, we have:

Bahia. No reliable estimates except as contained below in "Northern and Central States."

Minas Geraes............... 5,000. Sommer.

Espirito Santo............. 25,000. Ludwig[39]

Rio (Fed. Dist.)........... 18,000. Sommer.

So Paulo.................. 32,000. Ibid.

Parana .................... 35,000. Ibid.

Santa Catharina............ 100,000. Muller von Konigswinter Rio Grande do Sul.......... 250,000. Ibid.

Northern and Central States (including Bahia)........ 10,000. Sommer.

________ Total...................... 475,000.

Making a fairly liberal allowance for underestimates, we may regard the number 500,000 as representing the total number of citizens of German descent in Brazil to-day.[40]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: _V._ Tootal, p. XCV.]

[Footnote 2: _V._ Klupfel, pp. 121 and 162.]

[Footnote 3: _Cf._ Sommer: "Manoel Beckmann." _German American Annals._ New Series. Vol. 14, Nos. 5 and 6, 1916, pp. 189-196. Also Pereira da Silva: _Quadros_.... p. 111.]

[Footnote 4: _V._ Ludwig, p. 27.]

[Footnote 5: It is emphasized that only colonies (state, provincial, or private) in which the German element forms an important part of the population are noted.]

[Footnote 6: These are commonly designated as "Imperial Colonies."]

[Footnote 7: A comparatively very small number of Germans are located in the northern and western states of Brazil. They primarily follow business or professional careers and can hardly be cla.s.sed as settlers.

Consequently they do not come in consideration in this work.]

[Footnote 8: _Cf._ Sellin, _Das Kaiserreich Brasilien_, Vol. II, p. 80.]

[Footnote 9: Ibid.]

[Footnote 10: Formerly called "Philadelphia."]

[Footnote 11: _Cf._ Report of Pedro Rache, _Inspector do Servico de Povoamento_, in _Relatorio._]

[Footnote 12: Koehler was born in Mainz in 1810. At the age of 23 he went to Brazil and soon became a naturalized citizen of the country. He entered the government service and was promoted to the rank of major in the engineering corps in 1842. Died in Petropolis in 1847.]

[Footnote 13: _Cf._ report of the inspector Antonio Ribeiro de Castro Sobrinho in _Relatorio._]

[Footnote 14: _V._ Marcondes de Souza: _O Estado de So Paulo_, p. 195.

_Cf._ statement by Ernst Heinke in _Jahrbuch, Erstes_ ..., p. 250.]

[Footnote 15: I.e., lease of a section of land for the return of one-half of the yearly products.]

[Footnote 16: A Prussian ministerial decree (also adopted by other German states) forbidding the emigration of German citizens to Brazil.

In 1896 it was revoked for the three most southern states of Brazil, i.e., Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catharina and Parana.]

[Footnote 17: _Cf._ statements by C.F. Scheler in _Jahrbuch, Erstes_ ..., p. 175 ff.]

[Footnote 18: In 1828 according to Grossi, p. 168.]

[Footnote 19: Parana was separated from So Paulo in 1853.]

[Footnote 20: _V._ Sellin, _Das Kaiserreich Brasilien_, Vol. II, p.

111.]

[Footnote 21: _Cf._ report of the inspector Manoel F. Ferreira Correia in _Relatorio._]

[Footnote 22: Information furnished by Johann Potucek, Austro-Hungarian Consul in Curityba.]

[Footnote 23: This is commonly referred to as the first colony in Santa Catharina. However, Grossi (p. 168) refers to a _Colonia Alemo o Conselheiro Pedreira_ (state colony) founded in 1827.]

[Footnote 24: Lacmann (p. 8) states that _Gross Itajahy_ was founded in 1829.]

[Footnote 25: Born 1819 at Ha.s.selfelde in Braunschweig. Specialized in pharmacy. In 1849 came to Brazil and laid out plans for a colony. From 1850 to 1880 he was primarily occupied in directing the colony which bears his name. This colony was emanc.i.p.ated in 1880, but Dr. Blumenau remained on the scene of his former activities until 1884, when he returned to Germany. Died 1898.]

[Footnote 26: _V. Le Bresil Meridional,_ p. 309.]

[Footnote 27: The term "municipio" denotes a city or town together with the surrounding districts coming under the same jurisdiction; frequently (as used in this work) an emanc.i.p.ated colony.]

[Footnote 28: According to census of 1907 and calculations to date (September, 1916) in the archives at Blumenau.]

[Footnote 29: The term "Stadtplatz" as used by the colonists designates the seat or governmental center of a particular colony. Portuguese "sede."]

[Footnote 30: So named in honor of the president of the state at the time, Dr. Araujo Brusque.]

[Footnote 31: Information furnished by E. Bloch, _Engenheiro Chefe da Estrada de Ferro Santa Catharina._]

[Footnote 32: Grossi, p. 162.]