400 Discovery of the Province of Minai Geraes. [Aphil, 



known. The extraction of those minerals would be very easy if ably under- 

 taken, since the river can be turned with facility from its bed, having many 

 falls and very deep wells, from which the riches it contains could be brought to 

 light.* 



The river of Ita-ingaf has inexhaustible mines of white topazes, of various- 

 coloured crystals, aigue-marina, and very rare sapphire. In this river, which 

 runs in the district of Minas Novas, some hyacinths and crysolites have been 

 found. Being in the unexplored forest in the northern part of the river Joqui- 

 tinhanha, its source is unknown. 



The savages of that quarter, although Botecudos,J are not anthropophagi, like 

 those of the other parts ; and would soon have familiarized themselves with the 

 Brazilians if a better and more politic conduct had been pursued towards 

 them. J. J. da Fonceca, as the chief of a Bandeira of thirty-five men, 

 penetrated into this forest in the year 1811; they did not enter more than 

 thirty or thirty-two leagues, and at that distance found a stream tolerably rich 

 in precious stones, from which in eight days they drew more than an arrobe 

 (32 pounds) of aigues-marina of divers sizes, one of them weighing 2 pounds. 

 They likewise obtained many crysolites, amethysts, and tourmalines ; having 

 at length exhausted their stock of provisions, they quitted the forest. A few 

 days after they re-entered with additional numbers, and at the end of five days' 

 travel, they discovered a horde of aborigines, who voluntarily approached them, 

 presenting their wives and children with all the signs of satisfaction ;^ these 

 savages pryed into every thing appertaining to the Bandeira, eagerly ap|M-o- 

 priating to themselves whatever they could lay hold of made of iron, || and then 

 marched off. As the Bandeira could not work without iron, they went out of 

 the forest to replace what they had been deprived of, and on their return pre- 

 sented some trifling knives to the savages, which highly delighted them ; and 

 in this way a familiar intercourse might soon have been established. But being 

 unable to continue their labours, as the rainy weather began -to set in (in the 

 forest the rains commence much earlier than in the open fields), and the mos- 

 quitos and motiicos^i always swarming at this period, added to which the fcbris 

 quartana attaching them, they necessarily waited till the next season. The good 

 success of this expedition excited other Bandeiras to enter the forest the en- 

 suing season before Fonceca, but as their behaviour to the Indians was quite 

 the reverse of what his had been, the exasperated savages drove them out of 

 their woody domain, and then proceeded into the fields** and assaulted the 

 little Povoacao called Guarda Mor J. dos Passos.ff 



* Tlie poor peoi)le have an iron pole to which they fix a leatlier bag; this they 

 plunge into the ri\'ers, and draw it up full of the substances deposited in the bed, 

 which they wash. In this way tliey obtain diamonds in the forbidden waters unknown 

 to the guards. 



f Here they can only be worked in the rainy season, because the soil is so sandy it 

 absorbs the river, which only appears when it meets with a stratum of stones that 

 causes the water to overflow; and as without water their operations cannot go on, they, 

 of course, select wet weather for them. 



\ There are several distinct tribes of savages in Brazil ; they cfill Botecudus, those 



who bore their ears [Europe also can boast of her Jiuleaidos, with this slight 



difference; that, instead of boring their own ears, they bore those of ofliers. — Trans- 

 lator.] and lips, and stick slight pieces of wood in thom ; this they consider a 



great embellishment, as it gives them an aspect of wildiiess and ferocity, the chief 

 quality according to their " untutor'd minds." 



§ The most expressive sign of peace these savages can gi\'e is to present tlu'ir 

 families. 



II They like no metal but iron, for pointing their arrows ; when that is wanting they 

 sharpen pieces of crystal in lieu of it. In some parts of the province spangles of guUl 

 are occasionally found on the necks of the sick savages. 



f A species of venomous flj'. 



•* It is very seldom that the savages arc seen out of the forests, as, being quite naked, 

 the sun inflames their skin, and, moreover, because the trees serve them for a re- 

 trenchineiit in time of w-ar, a security which they do not find in the fields. 



ff This is the forest where an aigue-marina w'as found weighing loilhs., which 



