090 WHY N< T DIAMONDS IN THE URAL? 



the primitive inhabitants of the country. The Russians 

 erected on the summit a monument to his memory. 



This region abounding in gold and platina, reminded 

 Humboldt of the gold and platina regions of Brazil. 

 The latter produced diamonds; why should not these 

 produce hem also ? They would, if there was any truth 

 in his theory, that Nature was always true to herself; 

 not governed by accident or caprice, but by eternal im- 

 mutable laws, of which she was at once subject and 

 sovereign. He had already in his " Essay on the Bear- 

 ing of Rocks," directed attention to the singular analogy 

 of mineralogical characteristics in different parts of the 

 globe, as regards platina and gold-sand. Thus at Cor- 

 rego, in Brazil, gold, platina, and palladium were found 

 together; near Tejuco gold and diamonds; and platina 

 and diamonds near the river Abaste. This fact awakened 

 in him the strongest hope of discovering diamonds in 

 the Ural. When he arrived at any of the works he 

 caused the gold-sand to be subjected to microscopic ob- 

 servations: if gold and platina were found in it, he 

 directed the workmen to search carefully for diamonds. 

 These examinations revealed the existence of crystals 

 previously unknown in the gold-sands of the Ural, such 

 crystals as in Brazil occurred in gold-sand with dia- 

 monds. 



The travellers parted from Count Polier at Kusch- 

 winsk, on the 1st of July. It was their intention to 

 have accompanied him to his estates on the Koiva, in 

 the western declivity of the Ural, but as the direct path 

 was only practicable on horseback, and another route 

 would have caused them to lose too much time, they 

 abandoned the idea. The same day they proceeded to 



