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hard sentence into the most unfrequented part of the country, the}^ 

 endeavoured to explore new mines or new productions, in the hope 

 that, sooner or later, they might have the good fortune to make some 

 important discovery, which would obtain a reversal of their sentence, 

 and enable them to regain their station in society. They wandered 

 about in this neighbourhood, making frequent searches in its various 

 rivers for more than six years, during Avhich time they were exposed 

 to a double risk, being continually liable to become the prey of the 

 Anthropophagi, and in no less danger of being seized by the soldiers 

 of Government. At length they by hazard made some trials in the 

 river Abait^, at a time when its waters were so low, in consequence 

 of a long season of drought, that a part of its bed was left exposed. 

 Here, while searching and washing for gold, they had the good for- 

 tune to find a diamond nearly an ounce in weight. Elated by this 

 providential discovery, which at first they could scarcely believe to be 

 real, yet, hesitating between a dread of the rigorous laws relating to 

 diamonds, and a hope of regaining their liberty, they consulted a 

 clergyman, who advised them to trust to the mercy of the state, and 

 accompanied them to Villa Rica, where he procured them access to 

 the governor. They threw themselves at his feet, and delivered to 

 him the invaluable gem on which their hopes rested, relating all the 

 circumstances connected with it. The governor, astonished at its 

 magnitude, could not trust the evidence of his senses, but called the 

 oflficers of the establishment to decide whether it was a diamond, 

 who set the matter beyond all doubt. Being thus, by the most 

 strange and unforeseen accident, put in possession of the largest 

 diamond ever found in America, he thought proper to suspend the 

 sentence of the men as a reward for their having delivered it to him. 

 The gem was sent to Rio de Janeiro, from whence a frigate was dis- 

 patched with it to Lisbon, whither the clergyman was also sent to 

 make the proper representations respecting it. The sovereign con- 

 firmed the pardon of the delinquents, and bestowed some prefer- 

 ment on the holy father. 



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