TOPOGRAPHY— DIAMANTINA. 



169 



the very water used for drinking purposes by its inhabitants. The streets them- 

 selves are mere trenches constructed in connection with the mining operations, and 

 in 1875 ores were still extracted from a pit in the suburbs. 



Despite the branch railway connecting Ouro Preto with Rio de Janeiro over 

 a pass in the Espinhaço range, it suffers from lack of easy communications. Its 



Fi^. 67. — OuBO Pbeto — General View. 



school of mines, a scattered group of structures which is to be replaced by a 

 monumental edifice, contains a marvellous collection of ores, diamonds, and crys- 

 tals. 



DiAMAN'TINA LaGOA SaXTA. 



East of Ouro Preto, and at the foot of the same Mount Itacolumi, are situated 

 the gold mines of Fassngeni and the decayed city of Mnrianna. The railway 



