fU6 MM. Martius's and Spix's Excursion, S^c. 



been found to the administrators, who commonly Hve in the 

 neiglibourhood of the servicos or washing places. Once a week 

 the latter carry the product of the washings to Tejuco, when 

 the Junta da Extrac^ao examines, weighs, and registers them. 

 They are divided into twelve classes or htes, according to their 

 weight and size. Those only are counted singly which belong 

 to the three first classes, and which weigh at least three carats. 

 With regard to the diamonds of the three other classes, they 

 are satisfied with weighing them. Once a year the Junta as- 

 semble to inquire into the produce of each year ; and after a 

 proces-verbal has been drawn up, the diamonds are enclosed 

 in a box with two locks, of which the intendant-general and 

 the procurator-fiscal of the Crown have the keys. The box 

 and the proces-verbal are then confided to a detachment of dra- 

 goons, to carry them to the governor of Villa Hica, who for- 

 wards them to Rio Janeiro. 



The rivers which have always furnished the greatest number 

 of diamonds, are the Rio Jequetinhonha^ and the Rio Pardo. 

 The first takes its rise in the Serra do Gaviao, to the south 

 east of Tejuco, passes near this town, and afterwards takes a 

 north west direction in crossing the great forests which extend 

 along the coast, and falls into the sea near Porto-Seguro, after 

 having taken the name of Rio-Belmonte. It is in the bed of 

 this river that the greatest diamonds have been found. The Rio 

 Pardo has its source near the west frontier of the district, runs 

 in a north westerly direction, and discharges itself into the Rio 

 das Velhas, Besides these two rivers, there is in the district 

 of Tejuco a number of brooks which bring down diamonds ; 

 and, in order to extract them, their waters are often turned 

 aside, in order to throw their diamonds dry. 



It appears from official documents communicated to MM. 

 Spix and Martins, that the weight of diamonds furnished by 

 the district of Tejuco, from the year 177^5 the time when the 

 search for diamonds was put under proper regulations, till the 

 year 1818, amounted to 1,298,073 carats. However great 

 this produce may appear, it seems not to have been propor- 

 tional to the expences of management ; for a short time after 

 the visit of our travellers to Tejuco, the government renounced 

 the charge of it, and again made over to individuals the privi- 

 lege of searching for diamonds. 



