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Data obtained from a random sample show that in São Paulo intermarriage between Brazilians and foreigners gradually increased from the onset of heavy foreign immigration in the 1870's up to the 1920's. Intermarriage occurs most frequently between Brazilians and those of Mediterranean origin, least so with Japanese. It is concluded that common cultural characteristics facilitate intermarriage and that it is doubtful whether, as Savorgnan suggests, Italian endogamy in the U.S.A. is attributable to the immigrant's poverty and lack of education. The rates of assimilation for immigrants of various origins shown by the index of homogamy resemble those suggested by G. Mortara's study of linguistic assimilation. Matrimonial selection and linguistic assimilation appear to be equally useful measures of immigrant absorption. Although there are differences in the rates of intermarriage between Brazilians and the various nationalities, the rate of intermarriage between the foreign-born and persons of any nationality other than their own is roughly constant, except in the case of the Japanese among whom exogamy is infrequent. The index of homogamy must, however, be used with caution as a guide to immigrant assimilation. In 40% of marriages of Brazilians with the foreign- born the nationality of all four parents was identical with that of the foreign spouse, especially in the case of Italians. Many legally mixed marriages are thus, sociologically or psychologically speaking, homogamous. Analysis of the social status of husbands in three types of marriage suggests that intermarriage tends to occur among immigrants who are rising in the social scale. This conclusion is consistent with recent sociological studies in São Paulo which show that intermarriage with a Brazilian may be a symbol of rejection of the primary immigrant group by the economically successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]