Miscellanea. 175 
Helmreichen, that wide granitic cross-veins traversed the gold vein 
at Candonga.—With the assistance of Eschwege’s Statistical Ac- 
counts, he estimates the number of labourers employed in extracting 
gold at about 13,000, of whom perhaps 10,000 are slaves, and the 
remainder freemen; and, comparing their numbers with the produce 
of their labour before mentioned, it appears that each person collects 
on an average only about twenty pounds sterling worth of gold in 
the year. So small a return must long since have led to the aban- 
donment of this pursuit were it not for the extremely cheap manner 
in which the natives and their slaves are supported ;—and for the 
stimulus afforded by the immense prizes even yet found by the more 
fortunate miners. Still, with every possible allowance, it appears 
that capital may be invested in our own mines with far greater 
chances of success than are offered by the Brazilian gold workings. 
About 2000 slaves are employed in the Anglo-Brazilian mines ; 
of whom, perhaps, 1200 are the property of the companies; the 
remainder are hired from native slave-owners; they are all well fed, 
clothed, and housed. But notwithstanding our laws prohibit British 
subjects from purchasing negroes, it is deeply to be lamented that 
they are silent on the subject of hiring ; a circumstance still taken 
ample advantage of by too many of our countrymen, who thus 
supply themselves with slave labour, and thereby give the African 
slaver countenance and encouragement; whilst they as directly 
contribute to the profit of his abominable traffic as if they had been 
actually buyers. 
Ashort experience will satisfy an unprejudiced observer that the 
emancipation of the slaves without previous training in self-control, 
and in the arts and duties of civilized life, is rather inflicting mis- 
chief by setting at large a savage who will return to barbarism, than 
conferring a benefit or raising a fellow-creature in the scale of 
humanity. The author, soon after his arrival, established a place 
of secure deposit for those blacks who wished to economize their 
earnings ; founded a system of rewards amongst them for the finest 
poultry and pigs ;—for the most neatly kept gardens ;—the cleanest 
houses, and for the best general conduct ;—opened a school for the 
neyro children, and added to the number he found already learning 
handicrafts.—A strong spirit of emulation was soon excited amongst 
them; and subsequent observation showed that many of the slaves 
might with equal safety and advantage be entrusted with absolute 
freedom. Several adults were therefore emancipated; and the 
excellence of their subsequent conduct gave gratifying proof that the 
care and culture bestowed on them had not been in vain. A similar 
boon was also conferred on many children of parents, who, though 
themselves still slaves, gave evidence that their offspring would be 
brought up in habits of order, sobriety, and industry.— Where the 
dominant race counts less than one-fourth of the number of its cap- 
tives, a social revolution cannot be far distant; and we hope the 
free population of so vast an empire will see and profit by an example 
which, if regarded in time, may at the eventful period peaceably 
effect that change, which must be otherwise brought about by a 
catastrophe too horrible to contemplate.—It is a fact well known in 
the interior of Brazil, that the greater scarcity and higher price of 
slaves now than formerly, ensures that unfortunate race much better 
