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considered as belonging to the district of Villa do Principe. ISTo idea 

 was first entertained that the rivulets contained diamonds, although 

 it is said that some were collected and presented to the then governor 

 of Villa do Principe as curious bright stones, and were used by him 

 as counters at cards. Soon afterwards a few of them found their 

 way to Lisbon, and were given as pretty pebbles to the Dutch 

 minister to send to Holland, which was then the principal mart in 

 Europe for precious stones. The lapidaries, to whom they were 

 presented for examination, pronounced these pebbles to be very fine 

 diamonds. Information was accordingly sent to the Dutch consul 

 at Lisbon, who did not fail to profit by the occasion ; for he ma- 

 naged the affair with Government so well, that he contracted for 

 the precious stones at the same time that he communicated the in- 

 telhgence. Government afterwards endeavoured to monopolize the 

 diamonds, and made a distinct district of Cerro do Frio, placing it 

 under peculiar laws and regulations. 



The number of diamonds sent over during the first twenty years 

 after the discovery is said to be almost incredible, and to exceed 

 one thousand ounces in weight. This supply could not fail to 

 diminish the general value of diamonds, as none had ever before 

 been known to come from any other part of the globe, except India, 

 whither the Brazilian diamonds were afterwards sent, and found a 

 better market there than in Europe. 



By stratagems and intrigues Government was prevailed on to let 

 these invaluable territories to a company, who were under stipula- 

 tions to work with a limited number of negroes, or to pay a certain 

 sum per day for every negro employed. This opened a door to 

 every species of fraud ; double the stipulated number of negroes 

 were admitted ; and this imposition was connived at by the agents 

 of Government, who received pay in one hand and bribes in the 

 other. Presents were made to men possessing influence at court, 

 by the contractors, who soon became rich, and they continued (sub- 

 ject to a few regulations) in possession of the diamond mines until 



