466 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



Upon the whole, it seems to me, that all Gold found in the state of 

 dust, whether it be in the beds of rivers, among soils or sands, or even 

 schist, has been subject to the action of water, and removed from the 

 body, or matrix, in which it was first formed. Hence probably it is, 

 that we find it more abundantly in valleys, than on the summits and 

 sides of hills, and in masses either at considerable depths under the 

 surface of mountains, or near that of low levels, and never in such 

 a form in any other situation. 



Where the objects of pursuit are Gold and Diamonds, it might have 

 been expected, that all the energies of the mind would have been called 

 into action, to contrive means for facilitating labour, and for profiting to 

 the utmost by the munificence of nature ; yet it is true, that though an 

 insatiable thirst after this kind of wealth has been excited, it is almost 

 impossible for a person resident in England, to conceive how ignorant 

 the Brazilians are, in respect to the mechanical means of mining. It is 

 not, as has been hinted before, that the people are naturally deficient 

 in mental powers, or even destitute of that energy which would enable 

 them in most cases to excel ; but they have few or no machines, they 

 have not been conversant with the objects of Experimental Philosophy, 

 they have never been accustomed to contemplate nature, and to follow 

 her into dark recesses. Many of them consider all such knowledge and 

 pursuits as evil, and have not yet lost their dread of conjurors and 

 wizzards. A Priesthood, almost as ignorant as that of the darkest 

 ages, maintains its influence over their minds, contrives to keep itself 

 from the light, and to diffuse a constantly operating horror among the 

 people, of the very name at Philosophy. It is not possible to describe 

 how vacant and listless, under such circumstances, the human mind may 

 become, how debased and circumscribed its powers. 



The Caza de Fundi^am, or Royal Smelting-house for Gold, is a 

 good substantial edifice, finely placed upon elevated ground. Hither 

 all the metal found in the neighbourhood, and I believe in the whole 

 Comarca, must be brovight for the purpose of being smelted, and 

 paying the duty levied upon it, which amounts to one-fifth part of the 



