One hundred years ago this September, the independence of Brazil from the Crown of Portugal, and the formation of the new state into an empire, were declared. In commemoration of that series of events, special celebrations are being held over there during September. The Holy See is being (as, indeed, how should it be otherwise?) represented at those rejoicings, and so also are Great Britain and many other Powers. It may be of interest to glance at the very stirring and extraordinary history of that far-away land.

The first European to land in Brazil was Vicente Yanez Pinzon, who, in the year 1500, coasted as far as the Orinoco River, discovering also the mouth of the Amazon. During the same year, Pedro Alvarez Cabral, a mariner from Portugal, also reached Brazil. He disembarked on Easter Sunday. A solemn Mass was celebrated, and to the newly-discovered regions the voyagers gave the name, ‘True Cross’ (Vera Cruz). A vessel was sent back to Europe to announce to the King of Portugal the discovery which had been made, but Cabral himself had quite another object in view than following up that particular matter. In point of fact, in the voyage which had brought him to Brazil, he had been under the impression that he was on his way to India via the Cape of Good Hope! He contented himself, therefore, with leaving two of his sailors in the newly-found land, and then himself continued his original journey.