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At an early hour 1 arose ; and, though so unwell as to be scarcely 

 more than half alive, I could not resist the favourable opportunity 

 now offered me of gratifying the curiosity which had so long occu- 

 pied my mind, by visiting the diamond mines, in company with the 

 principal officer in the administration of them, who was therefore 

 qualified to furnish me with the amplest information. A fine horse 

 was waiting for me at the door, and I rode up to the house of the 

 governor, who introduced me to his amiable lady, daughters, and 

 family, with whom I had the honour to take breakfast. Several 

 officers of the diamond establishment arrived on horseback to ac- 

 companj' us, their presence being required on this occasion. 



At nine o'clock we set out, and crossed the ravine, watered by the 

 small rivulet of St. Francisco, which separates Tejuco from the op- 

 posite mountains. The road was very rough and uneven, continu- 

 ally ascending or descending mountains of considerable extent, the 

 strata of which were grit alternating with micaceous schistus, and 

 presenting an immense quantity of rude masses, composed of grit 

 and rounded quartz, forming a loose and friable kind of pudding- 

 stone. The country appeared almost destitute of wood, presenting 

 occasionally a few poor shrubs ; there were no cattle to be seen, 

 yet some of the tracts would certainly maintain sheep in great num- 

 bers. Having halted at a place about half way, we descended a 

 very steep mountain, full a mile in the declivity, and entered a 

 ravine where we crossed a very good wooden bridge over the river 

 Jigitonhonha, which is larger than the Derwent at Derby. We 

 rode along its margin, where the land appears much richer, pre- 

 senting a good vegetable soil covered with underwood ; and, pro- 

 ceeding about a league, arrived at the famed place called Mandanga. 

 The habitations, which are about one hundred in number, are built 

 detached, and are generally of a circular form, with very high 

 thatched roofs, like African huts, but much larger. The walls are 

 formed of upright stakes, interwoven with small branches and coated 

 with clay inside and out. The houses of the officers are of the 



