| Description |
Nineteenth century Brazilian statesmen thought that in the institution of military settlement they had a pair of seven league boots with which they could bestride their nation's untamed interior, broadcasting colonial nuclei much like a sower would spread seeds on virgin soil. While Brazil's backlands were hostile to ordinary agricultural settlement, military colonies, because of their garrison-like attributes, seemed to possess elements that might overcome such environmental problems and guarantee success. Administrators confidently planted at least one military settlement in almost every province of the empire. |
