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gently in order to obtain notice and reward. It must be obvious 

 that negroes rarely conceal diamonds for themselves ; and yet cus- 

 tom has rendered the feelings of their real owners in Tejuco so irri- 

 table, on being suspected to encourage the practice, that if the word 

 grimpero (smuggler) is mentioned in conversation, they shudder with 

 horror and distort their features, calling on the Virgin to witness their 

 abhorrence of a crime to which Government has attached the greatest 

 disgraces and punishments. 



Pure, honest souls ! Being a stranger in the country, I conceived 

 that these gentlemen really felt the sentiments which their words and 

 gestures expressed ; and, as persons of all ranks seemed to fear con- 

 versing on the subject, I thought at first that I should not see a single 

 diamond in all Tejuco, except those in the treasury ; but a little ac- 

 quaintance with the town soon convinced me that I was a novice ; 

 for, on visiting a few friends to whom I had introductions, I found that 

 diamonds were bartered for every thing, and were actually much 

 more current than specie. Even pious indulgences were bought with 

 them ; and surely no one could have suspected that the seller of His 

 Holiness's bulls would condescend to taste the forbidden fruits of 

 Tejuco*. 



As I had the honour to reside at the house of the Intendant, I was 

 considered by the people of the town as a person connected with 

 Government, and therefore as one who ought not to be informed of 

 the secret traffic among them ; hence, when in company with the 

 officers of the establishment, whenever the word grimpero was men- 

 tioned, I found it necessary to manifest the same feelings of disgust 

 which they did ; and, on expressing my surprise that any one could 

 so far degrade himself as to be guilty of the crime of smuggling dia- 



* The privilege of selling dispensations in this capitania is bought at Rio de Janeiro, or 

 of the worthy Bishop of Mariana, who derives great advantage from it. The sale is regarded 

 as a most excellent take, and yields a very considerable income to the present holder, who 

 possesses the talent of pleasing those most who pay the highest price. 



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