NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



505 



clay, and reach its solid core, while the water, oozing through the mass 

 above, is received into basins, together with the metal which it may 

 convey. The largest quantity is generally found to descend at the end 

 of the shaft or drift, where tlie soft materials of the mountain rest against 

 the solid ones. These drifts are seldom more than twenty yards long, 

 five feet high, and three broad. Some of the smaller and softer hills of 

 the vicinity have, indeed, been bored to a much greater extent ; and I 

 saw one which was completely perforated at its base. Whether larger or 

 smaller, these openings are closed, and secured with such precaution as 

 plainly indicates the fear of plunderers. 



When this place was first discovered by the Searchers for Gold, it is 

 said that they did nothing more than pull up the tufts of grass from the 

 side of the hill, and shook the precious dust from the roots. This will 

 probably be treated as a romantic tale by all who have not examined the 

 spot, but the fact, I think, may be easily explained. The steep slope 

 of the mountain is covered with a coarse kind of grass or rushes, in 

 small clumps or bunches ; hence when rain falls heavily, little streamlets 

 or rills pass round and between the roots, and whatever of a ponderous 

 nature they hurry downwards must be detained wherever their rapidity 

 is checked. This happens at every tuft of rushes which stands directly 

 in the little water-course, and hence these roots, I presume, have 

 become rich in metal, and at that time had been undisturbed for ages ; 

 hence those who pulled the grass would find the gold, and those who 

 plucked a second crop must as naturally be disappointed. As these 

 streamlets likewise descended the hill, collecting a greater quantity of 

 water, they acquired more force, and formed for themselves, by tearing 

 away the soil, a course with an irregular bottom, with hollows in the 

 softer parts, which would exist in the form of basins, and the descending 

 metal would be retained in them ; hence the formation of these little 

 Caldeiraos which often suddenly enriched an adventurer, and of which 

 so much is said by those who envy their good fortune. A great quantity 

 of the precious metal has doubtless passed on without impediment, 

 been collected in the lake below, or, buried amidst the wreck with 



3 s 



