24 Diiimonds of Bijzil. 



V. 

 j4ti Acount of tht Diamonds tf Brazil. By M. D'Js'PR.iS.t. 



As 



L.S tlic Society * is defirous of an account of the Diamonds of Brazil, I (hall endeavour 

 to fatisfy them to the utmoft of my power ; but previous to a defcription of their form, the 

 place where they are found, and the manner of fearching for them, I think it will be 

 uTcful to convey an idea of the country in which thefc diamonds are found. 



The province of Brazil wliich produces diamonds is fituated inland between 22v 

 and i6 degrees of fouth latitude. Its circumference is near 670 leagues. On the eafl it 

 is limited by the captainry or province of Rio Janeiro ; on the fouth, by that of St. 

 Paul ; on tlie north, by the Serloeiis, or interior part of the maritime province of the bay 

 of All Saints, and part of that of the mines of Goyarel ; on the weft, laftly, by anotlier 

 part of the laft-mentioned province, and by thofe dcferts and forefts which are inhabited 

 by the favages, and extend to the frontiers of Paraguay. On the fide neareft St. Paul 

 there are vaft uncultivated plains; the interior is divided by chains of mountains and hills, 

 with fuperb valleys and luxuriant fertile plains. It abounds with wood, and is watered by 

 a great number of rivers and brooks, that facilitate the working of the mines of gold, 

 which is obtained by wartiing in fpangles from the river fands, or in veins open to the 

 day. This province is divided into four comarcas or diftrifls, which, reckoning from 

 north to fouth, are Santo Joao del Rci, Villa Rica, Sabara and Sen Dofrio, or cold moun- 

 tain, called in the language of the favages Ttitauray. The diamonds arc found in this 

 laft; diftrift. The whole province is very rich in the ores of iron, antimony, zinc, tin, 

 fdver and gold. 



The Paullils and inhabitants of the ancient captainry of St. Vincent were the fuft who 

 difcovcred thefe mines, and peopled in great part the whole of this rich province, as well 

 as thofe of Malo Grcffo, Cuiaia, Goyares, and Riogrande de San Pedro. In a word,almoft the 

 ■whole of the interior of Brazil, with its immenfe riches, would have been ftill unknown 

 but for them. The metropolis at prefent enjoys the fruit of their eccentric a£livity and 

 hazardous difcoveries. Conftantly with their arms in their hands to defend themfclves 

 againft the favages, in the midfl of impenetrable forefts and folitary waftes, expofed for 

 twelve years to famine and the inclemency of the feafons, they overcame every obftacle : 

 nothing could check their unconquerable fpirit. There is not a fingle mountain, brook, 

 or mine, which has not been traverfed, difcovered, and vifited by them. Antonio Soary, a. 

 Paulift, who gave his name to one of thefe mountains, was the firft who difcovered and 

 vifitcd the S^ro Dofrio. Gold only was fought for, but at laft diamonds were difcovered 

 in the Riacho Fmido, whence they were firft obtained, and afterwards in the Rio de Peire ; 

 a great number were likewife obtained from the Giguitignogna, a very rich flream ; and 

 lailly, at the end of 1780 and beginning of 1781, a gang of near three thoufand inter- 

 lopers, called Grimpeircs, difcovered diamonds, and obtained an immenfe quantity from 

 the Terra de Snnto Antonio : but they were forced to abandon this fpot to the Royal Farm, 

 who took pofleflion of it. Then it was that the fufpicion was confirmed, that tlie moun- 

 tains are the true matrix of diamonds ; but as the work in the beds of rivers and on their 

 banks is lefs tedious, can be conduced on a larger fcalc, and affords larger diamonds, the 



• Tht Socitty fi Natural Hirtory of Paris. This account is infected in the Amialcs dc Chimir, XV. S», 

 frnm \v)iich ttiistrjiillation is made. 



7 Farm 



