RESOURCES OF BRAZIL— MINERALS. 



275 



inclined planes to the crushing machines, where the triturated masses may be 

 washed and levio-ated by the running waters of rivers and canals. Although the 

 works have been gradually retrenched by the diminished output, and by the in- 

 creasing price of labour, the foreign capital invested in this industry still yields 

 fair returns. 



The diamond industrv, at one time the most important in the world, has been 



rig. 118.— Limit of the SIining Intebdict about Diamantina in the Eiohteenth Century. 



Scale 1 : 800,000. 



43°4Q' 



West oF Greenw cV\ 



45°iO 



Limit of the old Mining Interdict. 

 18 Miles. 



suddenly ruined by the discovery of the South African diamantiferous fields. In 

 1733 the Portuguese Government first became aware of the existence of diamonds 

 in Minas Geraes, and true to the traditional policy of regarding Brazil as ils 

 racca de kite, "milch-cow," it at once proclaimed itself sole proprietor of all 

 the diamond fields. Then a space 42 leagues in circumference was enclosed 



