THE ATLANTIC MARGINS.—The coastal regions of the Brazilian massif, from the State of San Maranhao to that of Rio de Janeiro, may be considered under this title, although several subdivisions must be recognised. The north-eastern part, as far as the mouth of the Sao Francisco, consists of a number of river basins, which have the same general character as regards slope and soil, and, to some extent, climate. The temperature throughout is tropical, but the rainfall of Ceara ranges from about 20 to 60 inches; while further west it increases to 80 inches and over. From the mouth of the Sao Francisco southwards, the slope from the massif to the coastland is steeper ; the rivers are shorter ; the temperature is generally tropical on the lowlands (except in the south where it is sub-tropical), but somewhat cooler on the uplands ; and the rainfall is heavy. The region of heavy rainfall does not, as a rule, extend far inland, and its limits may, except in the south, be con sidered as determining the limits of the coastal margins. Through out the whole region the products are similar, but the north-eastern states, with the exception of Ceara, are the most fertile, and yield large quantities of cotton, sugar, and rubber. Cotton is grown, both in its herbaceous and arborescent forms, on the coastal plains as well as in the interior. On the plains, the plants are more pro ductive, but suffer in wet seasons from an excess of moisture. To the world's supply of raw cotton, Brazil contributes nearly 300,000 bales, and of that, the greater part is grown in the region under considera tion. The fibre of the arborescent varieties is longer than, but not so strong as, sea island ; the cultivation of the herbaceous plant is, however, not so difficult, and consequently it predominates. Sugar-cane is grown on the plains where the climate is moist and warm, while Manihot and Mangabeira are both cultivated, and at present give better returns than almost any other agricultural product. Cacao, also a cultivated plant in this region, which
supplies about six-sevenths of the Brazilian crop, is grown on the coast lands of Bahia, and is exported from San Salvador. Brazil produces altogether about one-sixth of the world's supply of cacao. Coffee is grown throughout the greater part of this area, but not extensively, except in the south where Rio de Janeiro produces a considerable amount.
The most important mineral deposits of this region are monazite sands, from which thorium, used in the manufacture of gas mantles, is obtained. These sands occur along the coast of Bahia and Espiritu Santo, and, in the interior, on lands formerly occupied by the sea, or even upon the banks of rivers.
Manufactures are as yet of little importance in the region, except in the extreme south, where the state, and more especially the Federal District, of Rio de Janeiro, is the seat of considerable in dustrial activity. Encouraged by a high protective tariff, the cotton industry has assumed considerable proportions in and around the capital, where there are also numerous woollen, jute, and felt factories, establishments for the preparation of food-stuffs, sugar refineries, iron foundries, etc. Rio de Janeiro and the Federal District together have one-third of the workmen engaged in manu facturing industry, and two-thirds of the capital invested therein, in the whole of Brazil. Elsewhere on the coastal margins, the extraction of sugar, the preparation of brandy, and a little spinning and weaving are the chief non-agricultural pursuits of the people.