^4^ MM. Martius and Spix's Excursion to the 



vellers for twenty-four hours if they have reason to think tliat 

 they have swallowed diamonds. 



Having arrived at the Villa do Principe, about five miles 

 from the frontiers of the diamond district, MM. Spix and 

 Martius sent to Tejuco a government messenger, to request 

 from the intendant-general the necessary passports, strength, 

 ening their request by the royal permission, with which they 

 were favoured before quitting Rio Janeiro. As soon as they 

 received them they set out, and in a few hours reached the 

 object of their destination. 



The town of San Antonio do Tejuco is situated in one of 

 the most fertile and delightful districts of Brazil. It is the 

 chief place of the district of diamonds, as well as the residence 

 of the intendant-general of the Junta diamantina, composed 

 of a procurator-fiscal of the crown, two treasurers, an inspec- 

 tor-general, and a book-keeper. A detachment of the regi- 

 ment of dragoons of Minas who kept the garrison there, fur- 

 nished the men necessary for guarding the frontiers and for 

 executing the orders of the Junta. The population of the 

 town is about 6000 souls. 



Tejuco owes its prosperity to the working of the diamond 

 mines. It was at the beginning of the eighteenth century that 

 there were found in this district brilliant stones, to which at 

 first no value was attached. An agent of the government, 

 who had seen at Goa rough diamonds, first recognized the 

 identity of these stones with the diamonds of India. Availing 

 himself secretly of his discovery, he collected a great quantity 

 of them, and returned with his treasure to Portugal, after 

 having communicated his secret to one of his friends. The 

 latter imparted it to the governor of Minas Gheraes ; the go- 

 vernment was made acquainted with the discovery ; and in 

 1730 the government subjected the working of the diamond 

 mines to a duty similar to that of the mines of gold. It was 

 soon found that the collection of this tax was liable to insur- 

 mountable difficulties ; and there was substituted in its place a 

 capitation tax of from 20 to 30,000 reis (L. 5, to L. 7, lOs. 

 Sterling,) for each slave employed in searching for diamonds. 

 Ten years afterwards the limits of the diamond district were 

 determined in a more positive manner, and the right of work- 



