enancio Ayres, Lageado, Taquara, Cruz Alta and Palmeiro.

Rio Grande do Sul has a much larger population of German descent than
any other state in Brazil. The main reason why so many Germans settled
in this state we may attribute to the climatic conditions which are here
more favorable to Germanic peoples than in any other section of the
country.

AN ESTIMATE AS TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GERMANS IN BRAZIL.

It is impossible to make an exact statement as to the total number of
Germans in the country. The reasons for this are not far to seek. The
fact that an accurate census for Brazil does not exist is not surprising
when we consider the enormous expanse of territory.[36] The greater part
of this is but sparsely settled and largely covered with primeval
forests. Official statistics, where they do exist are apt to have been
carelessly compiled and often are entirely untrustworthy, "Paciencia,"
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 class on ships 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