1826.] Discovery of the Province of Minai Gerues. S99 



submitted them to the operation of melting, and obtained tin at the rate of l-8th. 

 The Count of Pahiia, at that time, viz. 1813, governor and captain-general of 

 the province, forbade the extraction till it should be declared free by the court 

 of Rio, on which all the affair depended, but the court never came to a decision 

 on the subject; however, whoever chose melted the sands with impunity. The 

 emperor has now declared every manner of mining to be free, which his father 

 had already done in 1808, when he then permitted the unrestrained exertion of 

 all species of industry in Brazil, 



Quicksilver is in such great quantities, that it often appears combined in 

 amalgama with gold, especially in Villa Rica, Trypuhy, and Hocolomi, where 

 there is much cinnabar. From indolence this branch is abandoned in those 

 auriferous parts, though alone it is capable of enriching many persons.* 



There is not much copper; but in Sto. Vincente-Ferrer, oxid of that metal has 

 been found. 



Antimony is very common in the Camarca of Sahara, but nobody extracts it. 

 Arsenic is frequently found in the /aura* of Villa Rica; it has been fatal to 

 many miners. 



Iron is so abundant, that it is not necessary to speak of it particularly : it is 

 found and melted every where, but nowhere with method. 



I shall not occupy myself with other metals, beint; of less interest. Cinna- 

 bar and pyrites are very pientiliil, and inexhaustible mines of sulphur are 

 anticipated. 



There is a considerable cordilhera of lime-stone, which has the same di- 

 rection (from South to North) |as the great cordilheira previously mentioned. 

 It commences in the arrail of Mucaubas, runs more than fifty leagues through 

 the province, and divides it in Geraes and Certaons.f In this region there are 

 large natural mines, and those magnificent subterraneous excavations are 

 sometimes very profitable, as the earth, which exists or is deposited there being 

 washed every year, produces an abundant quantity of nitre.J This region runs 

 also through Alagoa Santa, Guinta du Sumiclsiro,§ Serra do Baldivi, Trayras 

 Barra, as far as Forvtigas, Gold is very rare at the foot of this mountainous 

 tract. 



Mining of Precious Stones. 



Serro do frio is not the only place abounding in diamonds, which are also 

 found at Serra do Gram Mogol, in the river Ita-Cambi/rosu, in that Joqitistinha, 

 which last forms the limits of the Villa do Portoseguro, at Serra do Andaya, 

 Rio Abaithe, &c. and in a great part of Rio de Sto. Francisco ; the amount of 

 the superficies declared to produce diamonds is 35 quadratic leagues. As the 

 extraction of diamonds belongs exclusively to the government, I shall dwell 

 but a short time on the subject. 



The mountain of Oiro branco, rich in every thing, is so also in topazes of all 

 colours, except green and blue. They exist in strata, pursuing the same direc- 

 tion as the layers of stone ; they are intermingled with strata of Pisarra thick 

 and brittle. 



The place called Capamdolana, on the east of the mountain, is the richest ; 

 nevertheless the master of that mine is poor from the bad method he employs 

 in mining. 



The river Ita-marandimba, which flows principally in the territory of Minas 

 Novas, is very rich in gold and emeralds. Its springs ai'e judged to be still 

 richer, but being in the forest of the Botecudos anthropophagi, they are un- 



• This advantage is unknown, because they are unable to distil it from the want of 

 retorts, which cannot be conveyed from Rio in consequence of the badness of the 

 roads, and there is no glass manufactory in the Brazils except that at Babya. 



■(• Certao is the denomination for the west part of that tract, where the province is less 

 mountainous ; and Gerves for the eastern part where it is more so. 



\ Marine salt is extracted also with nitre, though in small quantities ; however, in 

 the Certao, there are very extensive places where the soil of the fields being washed 

 produces mineral salt, which is used by the midland inhabitants. 



§ A river runs there at the foot of the tract to the extent of five leagues ; its waters 

 are meilicina!, as well as those of Alagoa Santa. 



