Page 262 : BRAZOS — BREAD
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confined largely to the seaboard sections, but are now being extended into the interior.
Climate. Nearly the whole of the area of Brazil lies within the tropics, less than ten per cent. being in the temperate zone. With the heavy rainfall, especially in the western portion, there is thus a combination of heat and moisture which results in rank growth of vegetation. In the extreme southern sections the four seasons are fairly marked; elsewhere they consist only of the wet and the dry season.
Natural Resources. Brazil is an agricultural country. Vegetation is rich and varied. The [[../Forest|forests]], especially in the Amazon valley, have an amazing growth, and abound in animals, birds and plants. The rivers are full of fish and reptiles. In the valley-region development of the country has been hindered by the almost uncontrollable luxuriance of vegetation, which the meager population has been unable to subdue and hold in check. Brazil has more varieties of plants than any other country in the world. Her forests have a great variety of valuable woods, including rosewood, [[../Mahogany|mahogany]], [[../Satinwood|satinwood]], [[../Oak|oak]], [[../|pine]] and many others.
Brazil furnishes more than 60% of the world’s [[../Coffee|coffee]] and more than 50% of the world’s [[../India-Rubber|rubber]]. Other important products are [[../Sugar|sugar]], [[../Tobacco|tobacco]], [[../Cotton|cotton]], [[../Rice|rice]], mate, [[../Cocoa|cocoa]] and nuts. Among her fruits are [[../Pineapple|pineapples]], [[../Orange|oranges]], [[../Mango|mangoes]] and [[../Grape|grapes]]. In southern Brazil the [[../Cattle|cattle]] industry is important. The mineral resources of Brazil have not been largely developed, but there are deposits of [[../Coal|coal]] and also [[../Gold|gold]], [[../Silver|silver]], [[../Lead|lead]], [[../Zinc|zinc]], [[../Iron|iron]], [[../Copper|copper]] and other minerals.
Manufactures. Manufactures are not largely developed, but are on the increase. There are more than a hundred cotton mills, also woolen factories, with [[../Silk|silk]] mills, [[../Flour|flour]] mills, etc.
Government. The United States of Brazil are a federal republic, the constitution being formed after the pattern of the United States. There are twenty states and one federal district. The national Congress consists of a senate and chamber of deputies.
Inhabitants. The population is about 22,000,000, less than half being of European descent. The language, unlike that of the rest of South America, is Portuguese. There are over 2,000,000 immigrants, chiefly Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and German. The religion is Roman Catholicism. The federal government pays the salary of the prelates, but has declared absolute freedom for every form of religion.
Education. Education is under state control, primary education being free but not compulsory. In Rio de Janeiro there are polytechnic schools, law schools, normal schools, a school of war, a college of marines and a naval academy. Other cities are provided with similar schools, but on the whole the standard of education is low, four out of five of the population being illiterate.
History. Brazil was discovered in 1500 by the explorer Pinzon, and thirty years later the [[../Portugal|Portuguese]] began to plant colonies along its coast. Their selfish and greedy policy long delayed the progress of the country. In 1808 the royal family of Portugal, the house of Braganza, being expelled by the French, took refuge in Brazil, and their stay was marked by great growth in the country. On their return the king’s eldest son was left as prince regent, but soon afterward, in 1822,, he declared Brazil independent, and was crowned emperor as Dom [[../Pedro I of Brazil|Pedro I]]. Worn out with the cares of rule, he abdicated in 1831, and for nine years regents guided the affairs of the empire, until in 1831 Dom Pedro II, at the age of 15, was crowned emperor. Except a few insurrections, his reign was peaceful, until the revolution in November, 1889, when the empire became a republic. The ex-emperor was kindly treated and provision made for his support, though for fear of trouble from his presence he was sent to Portugal. The capital of Brazil, its largest city and most important seaport, is Rio de Janeiro. Population (estimated), 1,000,000. The other chief towns are Bahia (230,000) and Pernambuco (150,000).
Brazos (brä′ zōs), formerly called Brazos-de-Dios, is a large river in Texas. It rises in the elevated region of the northwest that once was called the Llano Estacado or Staked Plain, and flows southeastward between [[../Colorado River|Colorado]] and Trinity Rivers. After a course of about nine hundred miles it falls into the [[../Mexico, Gulf of|Mexican Gulf]], forty miles southwest of Galveston. During the wet season it affords 300 miles of steamboat navigation. The [[../Cotton|cotton]] plantations along the river are highly productive. About midway between the source and the mouth is [[../Waco, Tex.|Waco]] (population, 30,000). This is an important railway center and the chief city on the river.
Bread, an article of [[../Food|food]]. Wheat is the best material for making bread; but other grains are used, such as [[../Rye|rye]], [[../Barley|barley]], [[../Corn, Indian|Indian corn]] and [[../Rice|rice]]. The earliest bread was made without leaven or [[../Yeast|yeast]], like the unleavened bread of the Jews and the oat cakes of Scotland and the corn cakes of [[../America (continents of)|America]]. Leaven was used to raise bread, that is, to give it a spongy texture, before yeast. It is simply a portion of moistened [[../Flour|flour]] or dough which has begun to ferment, and so when added to the mass causes the rest to ferment. Leaven is still used, but yeast has very generally taken its place,
