The secondary sources, and the ones which in this instance are most valuable, are embodied in the estimates of former colonial directors and other officials, as well as private persons having first hand knowledge concerning the different European elements in Brazil. The official data offered by the Bureau of Statistics of the "Ministerio da Agricultura" in Rio concerning immigration directly from Europe begins with the year 1820. That concerning immigration from Germany in particular begins with 1827. Official figures are available as to the number of immigrants from Germany from that date to the present excepting the years 1830-1836 inclusive, 1838, 1839, 1843, 1844, 1846, 1848 and 1849. The total is 128,233 up to the end of the year 1915.[38] In order to determine the approximate numerical value of the German element in the population of Brazil, many estimates worthy of consideration have been compared. The estimates which in the opinion of the writer have the strongest claim to accuracy, are listed below. As will be seen, those determined upon by Friedrich Sommer, _Direktor_ of the "Banco Allemao Transatlantico" of Sao Paulo are largely followed. This authority has for years been making a careful study of the subject and consequently his conclusions bear particular weight. Taking up the states in the order as previously, we have: Bahia. No reliable estimates except as contained below in "Northern and Central States." Minas Geraes............... 5,000. Sommer. Espirito Santo............. 25,000. Ludwig[39] Rio (Fed. Dist.)........... 18,000. Sommer. Sao Paulo.................. 32,000. Ibid. Parana .................... 35,000. Ibid. Santa Catharina............ 100,000. Mueller von Koenigswinter Rio Grande do Sul.......... 250,000. Ibid. Northern and Central States (including Bahia)........ 10,000. Sommer. ________ Total...................... 475,000. Making a fairly liberal allowance for underestimates, we may regard the number 500,000 as representing the total number of citizens of German descent in Brazil to-day.[40] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 1: _V._ Tootal, p. XCV.] [Footnote 2: _V._ Kluepfel, pp. 121 and 162.] [Footnote 3: _Cf._ Sommer: "Manoel Beckmann." _German American Annals._ New Series. Vol. 14, Nos. 5 and 6, 1916, pp. 189-196. Also Pereira da Silva: _Quadros_.... p. 111.] [Footnote 4: _V._ Ludwig, p. 27.] [Footnote 5: It is emphasized that only colonies (state, provincial, or private) in which the German element forms an important part of the population are noted.] [Footnote 6: These are commonly designated as "Imperial Colonies."] [Footnote 7: A comparatively very small number of Germans are located in the northern and western states of Brazil. They primarily follow business or professional careers and can hardly be classed as settlers. Consequently they do not come in consideration in this work.]