476 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



the bed of the stream was left unprotected, to serve as an overfall for 

 the water when the dam was full. Tlie Engineer, however, had known 

 nothing of the pressure of fluids, though enjoying the highest reputation 

 of any one in the country. He had made his wall about thirty feet 

 high, twelve wide at the bottom, and six at the top. The foundation 

 had been insecurely laid, and, as if to keep the whole work solid, the 

 top tier of stones was very large, weighing two or three tons each, and 

 had been laid in their places at an immense expense, A skilful and 

 practised mechanic will easily perceive that such a work must be blown 

 up at the base when the water was admitted into the dam ; and the 

 whole expense, amounting, it was said, to sixteen thousand pounds 

 sterling, was lost in a moment. 



The farm, with these advantages, was to be sold, or, if more con- 

 venient to the occupier, to be let. It contained a quarter of a league 

 in Testado or breadth : the length was undefined, but when speaking of 

 it, the owner said, " you may go as far as you please, I know of no one 

 beyond who has any claim." The whole, as far as we could judge of 

 such a tract, appeared to be a rich red loamy clay, probably dry and 

 hard in summer, and destitute of wood, except such fruit-trees as grew 

 and flourished in the garden. The price asked for this estate was twelve 

 hundred Milreis, or three hundred pounds sterling, which included 

 every expense of purchase, Decima, or tax on the sale, and the charges 

 of making out the title. 



The ruin of the Lavra, which had been conceived upon a large 

 scale, and constructed upon the best principles which have yet been 

 adopted in this country, is probably one of the most fortunate circum- 

 stances which has ever occurred to the neighbourhood, however disastrous 

 it might prove to the projector and his family. The surface of the earth 

 will yield much more solid wealth than the most auriferous stream which 

 ever flowed, — than the richest mine of diamonds which was ever 

 discovered. 



When I first saw the town of St. John D' El Rey, it fell short of 

 the ideas which I had previously formed of its extent, and the country 



