by bandits from Bahia.
They are constantly springing upon the terrified population of the
municipality and especially of the town.

"... The bandits continue their incursions; murders follow one another in
the entire zone between Formosa and Barreiros, including Santa Rita and
Campo Largo, the inhabitants of which zone are paralyzed with terror....
Our commerce with Bahia, as well as relations between private
individuals, is thus interrupted."

In his message the Presidente wisely and frankly disclosed the
difficulty of administering justice under existing laws, when juries
would absolve proved and confessed murderers wholesale. He endeavoured to
stimulate some sense of honour in the officials in charge of the various
municipalities, where "_as rendas em geral mal applicadas_" (the revenue
generally misapplied) found its way into channels through which it was
not intended to pass.

A fervent appeal the Presidente made to prevent the spread of smallpox.
The vaccine which the Government sent to various points of the State was
not used.

Curious, indeed, but perfectly true, were his statements regarding the
police force.

"The officers are zealous and understand their duty. The policemen,
notwithstanding all their defects, are being instructed and disciplined.
The policemen are in general 'criminals' (_morigerados_). _Ha falta de
armamento, e o existente nao e o melhor._ (There is lack of armament and
the existing one is not the best.) The pay is small ... and the body
needs reorganization."

The Academy of Law (_Academia de direito_) was not satisfactory and did
not answer the purpose for which it was established.

The Lyceum, with its 105 pupils, gave fair results, barring the tolerance
in examinations, which, however, did not reach a criminal point (_sic_).
It possessed no building of its own, and was badly housed in a private
dwelling.

Public instruction was admittedly defective all over the province. The
teachers were almost as ignorant and illiterate as the people who went to
learn--and perhaps more so; while the Escola Normal (Normal School) for
women was almost altogether unattended. The public works were uncared
for--there was not a single new work of art begun in the State. Nor could
the State boast of a single road or trail or bridge in fair condition.

The laws on the possession of land would one day lead to immense
difficulties and confusion. The greater part of the land now occupied was
in the ha