INDUSTRIES OF BRAZIL. 277 



have nowliere been met in igneous formations. The output from the whole 

 of Brazil down to the present time is estimated at 12,000,000 carats, or nearly 

 21 tons, valued at £20,000,000. Since the opening of the South African mines 

 the yield has rapidly fallen off, from 90 pounds in 18G7 to 40 in 1880, and at 

 present (1894) to about 20, valued at £40,000. Although the African diamonds 

 are less beautiful, their total sale already greatl}^ exceeds that of the Brazilian 

 stones for the whole period of over 150 years since the commencement of mining 

 operations in JMinas Geraes. Amongst the more famous stones found in Brazil 

 are the Abaété biilliaut, of 144 carats, and the "Star of the South," which wiis 

 picked up by a negress in 1853, and which before cutting weighed over 254 

 carats. 



Besides diamonds, numerous other gems occur in Brazil, such as garnets, 

 topazes, corundum, beryls, and amethysts. But no true emeralds are found, and 

 the " green stones " taken for such were probably tourmalines. 



Despite their abundance, few of the other metalliferous beds are utilised. 

 The copper mines of E,io Grande do Sul are alone worked, and a little iron ore is 

 supplied to the foundries from the inexhaustible deposits of Ipaneraa in S. Paulo, 

 and of the two iron mountains of Itabira do Campo and Itabira do Matto 

 Dentro in Minas Geraes. This State also contains lead, and the coalfields of 

 Santa Catharina and Rio Grande do Sul support some small local factories. 



At S. Ctietano, near Marianna, in Minas Geraes, occur some beds of excellent 

 kaolin ; the lignite of S. Paulo employs a few hands ; and here and there turf is 

 extracted from the peat-beds occupying the old lacustrine depressions. Salt, 

 vast quantities of which might be obtained from the mines and saline streams 

 and marshes, is still imported from Europe, chiefly as ballast in English vessels. 



Manufactures — Tjiade. 



Nearly all the manufacturing industries are represented in Brazil, which 

 abounds in the raw materials, such as metals, timber, gums, dyewoods, fibres, 

 hides. These materials are now worked by experts, engineers, distillers, skilled 

 labourers, who are annually arriving in increasing numbers. These industries 

 are encouraged by the heavy duties imposed on foreign goods, but the result is 

 that the cost of production is much higher than in the European industrial 

 centres, and this implies a corresponding loss to the local consumers. Spinning 

 and weaving are the chief manufactures fostered by the high protective tariffs, the 

 abolition or even reduction of which would involve half the native factories in 

 ruin. 



Other industries are chiefly those needed to supply the towns and settlements 

 with primary necessities, such as bricks, lime, cement, furniture, carts, waggons, 

 besides distilled and fermented drinks. Many demands are created by the rapid 

 development of the railways and other means of communication. The state of 

 the highways in former times may be judged from the fact that the convoys of 

 minerals and other merchandise, usually in groups of seven men and seven pack- 

 52 



