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they had been employed in the works when the accident happened^ 

 and that the diamonds found in them excelled in number, size, and 

 fineness those produced at any other place. These reports soon 

 reached the ears of the Intendant, Avho, within a year after entering 

 upon his office at Tejuco, formed a plan of clearing and excavating 

 the works. Such a stupendous undertaking was calculated only for 

 a man of his superior talents and enterprise. He stationed there 

 four hundred negroes under the direction of the best officers on the 

 establishment ; inclined planes were formed, and pulleys calculated 

 to lift immense weights were erected. As some of the masses of 

 sienite were too large to be raised whole, and the substance was so 

 hard that steel would not stand to bore it, they were obliged to con-- 

 trive means for breaking them. Recourse was had to large fires, with 

 which the rocks were heated, and cold water was thrown upon them 

 from tubs suspended by long pieces of timber formed somewhat like 

 cranes. Afier six months of very heavy and incessant labour, the 

 place was cleared. Let us for a moment reflect on the sanguine 

 expectations which had been formed respecting the size of the dia-* 

 monds, their number and brilliancy, the honours that would be con- 

 ferred on the officers, &c. ; and we may judge what must have been 

 the general disappointment, when, after the bottom had been scraped, 

 not a diamond was found ! Thus ended this serious trial, made at 

 great expence, labour, and risk ; like many other speculations, built 

 on the delusive stories propagated by old miners respecting places 

 formerly worked, by which new adventurers are tempted, and fre- 

 iquently ruined. 



I continued my former route, visiting the same friends who had 

 received me on my journey to Tejuco, until I arrived at Cocaes. 

 In the vicinity of this place are found fine amethysts and 

 crystals, through which titanium is interspersed. Proceeding from 

 hence, I took a more easterly route to the village of Bromada, 

 distant about five leagues. A great part of the road was covered 

 with rich iron ore. I passed through the village of St. John, and 



