From: Noroeste Lius, Brazil
11 December 1927

Dear Brother Rochus and Family!

This is to inform you that we are really bad off over here. Our children have been sick for two months. They cannot withstand the climate. An unbearable heat prevails here. If one gets sick, you almost succumb to this heat.

The wages are not bad here. In one room I installed a wheel with blades, which is set into motion and creates a little breeze when the heat is too great.

We wanted to leave this area, but for the time being we have to stay here. We are all sick. It would be better if death would deliver us, because it will not take much longer anyway.

I could get sufficient land here for free, but it is all wooded and would have to be cleared off. I do not want any land, but would like to leave this area.

Negroes mostly inhabit the land. Fights and murders occur here frequently. Every Saturday the workers go to a dance where there is evil behavior. It happened recently that two got into a fight, and one shot the other dead. This happens here often. It is an un-civilized region.

For the New Year, I took on 8,000 coffee trees to maintain. I also received a different house with four rooms and two kitchens. The living quarters here are free. I also planted a fairly good piece of land with rice. However, the large lizards have already done damage to the rice fields.

I wrote the editor, Mr. Brandt, and asked him to send me the Staats-Anzeiger. (*Editor: That I will send you. The paper was forwarded to you. Best greeting.)

With greetings,
Heinrich and Nathalia Ternes

(*Editor: For entry in Der Staats-Anzeiger, this letter was forwarded by Rochus Ternes, Raleigh, N. D., who is the brother of the writer.)