Die Geschlechter frei und stark.

Lasst uns schaffen mit der Stärke
Dessen, der die Heimat liebt,
Lasst uns beten, dass zum Werke
Gott uns das Gedeihen gibt!
Ewig heilig, ewig teuer
Bleibest du dem deutschen Lied,
Heimatland, in dem das Feuer
Unsres Herdes gastlich glüht.

O. Meyer in _Uhle's Kalender_ for 1916.




PREFACE.

The primary purpose of this work is to give an idea of the dialect which
has been developed by the German-speaking element in Brazil.

As comparatively little is known by the English-speaking public
concerning the history, location and relative importance of the German
element in Brazil (judging from extant English publications referring to
the subject), the main part of the work has been preceded by a chapter
dealing with these particular phases. This first chapter is also
intended to prepare the reader to form a reasonable estimate of the
comparative importance and extent of the dialect under discussion in the
main part of the work.