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From: "Alan Longbottom" <>
Subject: [SOUTH-AM-EMI-L] Emigration - cautionary tales
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 07:55:24 -0000

>From Alan Longbottom at Pudsey
Visit the Pudsey Civic Society site at
http://www.clanvis.com/pcs/

The Graphic Vol 6 21st December 1872 p 590
South America - From all accounts received, English emigration
to Brazil, of which we have lately heard so much, has turned out
a failure. A large number of Warwickshire labourers went out
upon the most enticing representations. For six months they were
to be paid 4s a day for working at what they liked, and 8s after-
wards. Their living would consist of "duck, fowl, eggs" the
Government would give #100 per cent over and above the sum spent
on their cottages, while the soil was said to be rich in gold,
minerals and lead. "tons of which were dug up almost pure"
Private letters from emigrants to their friends, however, give
a very different account of the country. "They have used us very
badly. We have not tasted bread since we have been here. They
have not put us on any land yet; we live together like pigs,
- worse than pigsties" writes one who adds that on landing they
had to walk 12 miles up to their knees in mud, to lie on the
ground all night without shelter, the rain descending in torrents.
Another writes " We have nothing to eat but black beans and rice.
There is no bread here. We have no bed to lie on but the cold
ground, and I have not undressed more than 3 times since we left
Old England"
A petition has been addressed to the Emperor to send them home
again.

Servants in Chili have not too easy a time of it. One man was
recently smeared with turpentine and set on fire by his master,
who subsequently compelled a fellow-servant to kill him.

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