184 Walshes Notices of Brazil. 



of which the sand seemed to be formed. Piled up in great disorder were 

 mounds of mica, slate, and large masses of different strata were lying over 

 each other, in an angle considerably inclined, as if they had slipped down 

 in succession from some more elevated place. Towards S. Jose, the face 

 of the ridge was a perpendicular precipice, five or six hundred feet high, for 

 twelve or fourteen miles ; on the other side it descended in a more gradual 

 slope, like a shed from a wall. 



*' The formation of this serra is generally of mica slate, and a modification 

 of clay, talc, and chlorite slate. There is no granite yet discovered here ; but 

 a league and a half on the western side are extensive tracts of it. The 

 beta, or vein, is generally quartz, in which is found gold variously mixed with 

 iron stone, magnetic and titaneous iron, ochre, tellurium, and pyrites, con- 

 taining gold and silver. The serra extends about twelve miles from east 

 to west." 



"We had every day, almost, a thunder storm, and the repercussion from 

 the face of the ridge was so loud, sharp, and distinct, that it seemed as if the 

 hard stone was hit and broken by a number of sledges striking upon it; and 

 certainly if this symptom be any indication of metallic veins, it no where 

 exists so strong as in the serra of S. Jose." 



" For a long time, the only gold in the country was extracted from the 

 clay, through which the rains from this ridge had filtered, leaving behind all 

 the particles of the metal which they carried down. The first mines in 

 the province were pits, called cata, opened by the workmen till they 

 came to the cascalho, or gravel, below. This was broken up with pick-axes, 

 and the contents brought to the river and washed. They were therefore 

 opened as near the banks as possible, and were generally called taboleiros, 

 from the flat tabular surface over them. These primitive workings are 

 every where to be seen, and have given names to places, as Catas Altas. 



"The next improvement was to conduct a stream of water to ground 

 known to be impregnated with the metal, and so wash it out on the spot, and 

 these Were called lavras; they are seen in abundance , on the banks of the 

 Rio das Mortes. 



, " The third and last was pursuing the metal into the rock itself, and this 

 they attempted by opening superficial trenchments, on the most horizontal 

 surfaces, and pushing them on where they found any indication of gold. 

 This they call talho alberto, or the open cut; and several of these remain 

 in the serra towards S. Joao del Rey, about ten or twelve feet deep, ramify- 

 ing in different directions, like the ravines of mountain torrents, which they 

 resemble at first sight ; but this, however, also failed, as the Brazilians had 

 neither skill nor capital to proceed deeper, from the clumsiness and deficiency 

 of their operations." 



" The mines of Potosi were discovered by a Spaniard, who, in ascending 

 the mountain, seized a bush to assist him; and this giving way, he found the 

 root embossed with particles of silver. A similar circumstance is told of 

 gold in this province. The first Paulistas pulled up tufls of grass in the 

 same manner, and found numerous particles of gold entangled in the roots; 

 and the first washings in search of the metal were from the roots of the herb- 

 age at the base of the hills, 



" When a quantity of this impure mixture (grains of gold and esmeril) 

 was thus collected, it was laid in the batea, (a bowl,) and here it was dexter- 

 ously moved from side to side, in a constant ablution of fresh water, till the 

 esmeril (oxide of iron) also passed off, and the heavier gold dust remained 

 alone in the point of the cone. The whole of this was finally deposited in 

 a large copper skillet, placed over a fire on the spot, and stirred till the water 

 evaporated, and nothing remained but dry gold dust, in general of exceed- 

 ingly minute particles, but frequently appearing in small globules, some as 



