| THE CYCLE OF COFFEE |
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| Piece of an ancient coffee grinder |
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| In the beginning of the century XIX, the coffee reached a high value in the European market. Due to this opportunity, in 1830 it was already the most exported product by Brazil, surpassing gold and sugar. The main region of coffee producer was "Vale do Paraíba" and, Paraty was the closer port to ship the coffee destined to Europe. It began in the village a movement had never been seen before. |
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| More than 20.00 animals passed by year carrying coffee bags and other agricultural products to be sold in Rio de Janeiro. The trade rose again, appeared stores which bought and/or stocked the coffee raised in the district. |
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| In this same time, the "paritiense" economy was benefited with the Royal Family arrival in 1808 at Rio de Janeiro. Due to the Portugal nobleness and the high rates of consumption, the "paritiense" products were quickly sold in the capital. In order to meet this demand, there was a regular marine transportation between Paraty and Rio de Janeiro made by ten sailboats and one riverboat. |
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| As result of this commercial activity, it was possible to build another church - Nossa Senhora das Dores. Parallel to and a little bit far away from the Gold Pathway, it was opened a new pathway, entirely made of stone so that the "tropeiros"* passed safely. In 1808, the population was calculated in 6.128 inhabitants. |
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| It was in this period of development that the streets paving of the village was terminated. In 1830, the village had 400 houses, being 40 two-storey houses, around 10.000 inhabitants, but 3500 were slaves. Too intense was the village development that in 1844 was entitled as a real city. In downtown, the houses predominated over the stores and shops with doors instead of windows and, when it was two-storey houses, the trade was at the ground and the house was at the second floor. |
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| Paraty Peça
de um antigo moedor de café |
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| In 1850 there were more than 150 distilleries (alambiques) in Paraty and 16.000 inhabitants. However, the wealthy belonged to a small group. The mountain relief crossed by several rivers divided naturally the rural properties among several agriculturist and/or producers of distilled drink (aguardente) (according to the survey of 1920, Angra dos Reis had 15 rural properties while Paraty had 133). The dealers, with their stores and boats to sell goods in Rio de Janeiro, managed to impose prices for the producer guaranteeing a good mark-up. There was in Paraty as well as in a whole colonial Brazil, three classes of trade: traders,dealers and sellers. |
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The first one was composed of owners of a great amount of working capital who bought all farm productions or imported directly the European Products so that they bought all goods contained in the vessels. They sold for the dealers who resold for the final public and for the sellers (owners of small stores in the rural areas).
- Tropeiros - people who traveled to sell goods |
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