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■prniini iioili mo'ii .?.^s\mii III mv 



lyjl'jih Si gnih'/ofli! 'fl^o'iii-. n'l fUrngsii •ufio»af; 



CHAP. XIV. 5 J 10} 



S'ome Account of the Districts of Minus Novas and Paracatit. — Of 

 the large Diamond found in the River Abaite. 



JT was my intention to have continued my journey to Minas Novas, 

 and from thence westward to Paracat^i, and to have returned by 

 Abait^, a place that has produced many large diamonds, though 

 generally of inferior quality. This design I was prevented from ac- 

 complishing by illness, being attacked with a violent sciatic com- 

 plaint, accompanied with great debility in the right side, which 

 obliged me to return as soon as possible. While I remained at 

 Tejuco, for the purpose of regaining strength sufficient to encounter 

 the fatigues of a journey back to the capital, I employed myself in 

 collecting information respecting these districts from intelligent per- 

 sons who resided there, as well as from officers on the establishment. 

 The following brief description is the result of the communications 

 with which they favoured me. 



The principal village in Minas Novas, called Tocaya, is thirty- 

 five leagues distant from Tejuco, in a north-easterly direction. 

 The road thither is parallel with the river Jigitonhonha, which 

 runs from two to five leagues westward of it*. Numerous 

 rivulets flow into it in this direction, in some of which are 

 found white topazes, more commonly known here by the name of 

 minas novas. They are pretty pellucid pebbles, generally rounded, 



* On the road there are numerous farm-houses, which afFord sufficient accommodation 

 for a traveller to pass a night. They in general belong to persons resident in Tejuco, 

 where their produce is sold. 



