( 255 ) 



As the object of my journey into this district was to examine into 

 the real state of affairs, and to give a true report of them on my re- 

 turn, for which purpose I was furnished with many privileges never 

 allowed to any person before, and was thus enabled to see all that I 

 desired, humanity requires that I should make some observations on 

 the fate of those unfortunate persons who have been tempted to 

 smuggle diamonds, and have been caught in the act. I even men- 

 tioned the subject to the minister on my return to Rio de Janeiro ; 

 but as his occupations were great, and the state of my health re- 

 quired me to leave the country immediately, nothing more was said 

 of it. 



The great demand for these precious articles, and the facility of 

 secreting them, have caused them to be searched for and carried 

 away in violation of the existing laws of the country. Of the 

 numbers who have engaged in this illicit traffic, from an eager desire 

 to become rich at once, many have eluded the vigilance of the guards, 

 and have finished their career with credit and opulence ; others less 

 fortunate have been detected, and have incurred the punishment an- 

 nexed to the offence, namely, the surrender of their illegally acquired 

 treasure, the confiscation of their whole property, and exile to Africa, 

 or confinement, perhaps for life, in a loathsome prison. Mild as are 

 the criminal laws of Brazil, the latter part of this sentence is an ex- 

 ception at which human nature shudders. Surely, when a poor 

 wretch who has been tempted to this offence has atoned for it by the 

 loss of all he possessed, he has suffered sufficiently without being 

 subjected to the forfeiture of personal liberty, and to all the woes in- 

 cident to hopeless captivit}'. Far be it from me to countenance any 

 infringement on the laws which have been established for the protec- 

 tion of property, either public or private ; to respect the institutions 

 of whatever nation I may live in, I hope I shall always be among tlie 

 first, and to encourage others to disregard them, the very last ; for 

 illicit trade of every description is a deceitful and dangerous pursuit, 

 the sweets of which are ever attended with a counteracting portion 



