506 



>rOTES ON BRAZIL. 



which it has been filled, must there remain until better methods of 

 mining are adopted. 



A German Baron has lately erected, in the golden plain, a Water- 

 mill, for the purpose of breaking and washing the Cascalho, which is 

 found in abundance at no great distance. One part of the machine 

 breaks the quartz by means of stampers, working like those of our 

 Oil-mills ; the other consists of two large vats, like those of abrewhouse, 

 into which the broken quartz is conveyed, and where it is stirred about 

 by means of flukes affixed to the under side of the lids, which are set in 

 motion by a horizontal cog-wheel. A small stream of water is conducted 

 into each vat, which, after passing through the mass of Cascalho, 

 escapes by a small spout fixed near the bottom of the vats, and with it 

 issues a part of the gold. This machine is miserably finished and put 

 together ; not so much, I believe, from any want of the necessary know- 

 ledge and skill in the contriver, as from the utter want of dexterity in 

 the millwrights. 



Imperfect as is the Baron's mill, it is greatly extolled ; and deservedly 

 so, for it is the only thing of the kind in the country. The projector 

 is worthy of estimation, for he is a man capable of devising extensive 

 plans, and has really done, and is still doing, great good among his 

 listless neighbours, by setting afloat new ideas. In one instance, at least, 

 they do not praise him without understanding the benefit received, for 

 he has constructed, towards the South-East of the town, an excellent 

 road, which serves the Villaricans for a promenade. He is distinguished, 

 • too, by offices and honours conferred upon him by the government ; but, 



according to its usual parsimony, it has not, I fear, encouraged him in a 

 more essential way. 



Part of the country seems to be let out, on an annual rent, to 

 persons who wish to employ their capital in mining adventures. My 

 landlord was one of this description ; for, while showing me his farm, 

 which he described as six miles long, he spoke not of any of the usual 

 produce of land, but of his mineracoens. And he was correct, for he 

 grew no more than was consumed in the house ; while his six slaves. 



