BRAZIL. 



483 



ever known was found in Brazil, weighing, in its rough state, 1,680 carats, or 14 oz. troy, 

 which, according to the imaginary and conventional rule of valuation, at =£2 sterling for the first 

 carat, would be equal in value to 25,062,912 dollars. Topazes of diflerent colors are also 

 found. In the mining districts, the inhabitants suffer severely from a scarcity of salt, although 

 it is extremely abundant in other parts of the country. The quantity necessary to cure an ox, 

 is said to cost three times as much as the animal. 



9. Jlnimah. Among the native animals of Brazil, are the jaguar, the tapir, the sloth, and 

 several species of apes. The birds are distinguished for the variety and splendor of their plu- 

 mage. The huge cayman haunts the waters. Serpents are extremely numerous ; no less 



Brazilian River, Forest, and Animals. 



than 29 kinds have been enumerated. Of all the numerous swarms of insects which mlesl this 

 country, the ant is the most formidable and destructive. So dreadful are its ravages, that it 

 is sometimes called the " King of Brazil." The rivers and seacoast are well stocked with 

 fish. Whales are very numerous in the adjacent seas. 



10. Face of the Country. Viewed from the sea, the country appears rugged and mountain- 

 ous ; but on a nearer approach, its appearance is highly beautiful and picturesque, clothed as it 

 is with the most luxuriant vegetation, its hills covered with thick woods, and its valleys with a 



5 feRt. After this operation, the water is drained away 

 from all the deeper parts of the channel, by means of large 

 caissons, or cliain-pumps, which are worked by a water- 

 wheel. The channel being in this manner laid dry, the 

 mud is carried away, and the cascalhao is dug up and re- 

 moved to a convenient place for washing, which is done 

 by negroes in a range of troughs, through which a stream 

 of water is made to flow as occasion requires. At equal 

 distances, are placed 3 high chairs for the overseers. Af- 

 ter they are seated, the negroes enter the troughs, each 

 provided with a rake of a peculiar form and short handle, 

 with which ho rakes into the trough about 50 or 80 pounds 

 of cascalhao. The water being then letin vipon it, thecascal- 

 hao is spread abroad, and continually raked up to the head 

 of the trough, so as to be kept in constant motion. Tliis 

 operation is performed for about a quarter of an liour ; the 

 water then begins to run clearer, having washed the earthy 

 particles away ; the gravel-like matter is raked up to the 

 head of the trough ; after the current flows away quite 

 clear, the largest stones are thrown out, and afterwards 

 tliose of inferior size ; then the whole is examined witli 

 groat care for diamonds. When a negro finds one, he im- 

 mediately stands upright and claps his hands, then ex- 

 tends them, holding the gem between his fore finger and 

 thumb, whereupon an overseer receives it from him, and 

 deposit!) il ill a liowl suspended from the centre of the 



structure, half full of water. In this ves;el all the dia- 

 monds fiiund in the course of the day aie placed; at the 

 close of the work they are taken out and weighed b3' the 

 ])rincipal officer, and are then registered in a book kept for 

 that purpose. When a negro is so fortunate as to find a 

 diamond of 17^ carats weight, much ceremony takes place ; 

 he is crowned with a wreath of flowers, and carried in pro- 

 cession to the administrator, who gives him his ficedom 

 by paying his owner for it. He also receives a present of 

 new clothes, and is pertnitted to work on liis own account. 

 When a stone of 8 or 10 carats is found, the negro receives 

 a couple of new shirts, a complete new suit, with a hat, 

 and a handsome knife. For small stones of trivial amount, 

 proportionate premiums are given. " During my stay at 

 Tejuco," says Mawe, " a stone of ICJ carats was found ; it 

 was pleasing to see the anxious desire manifested by the ofti- 

 cers,that it might prove heavy enough to entitle the poor 

 negro to his freedom ; and when, on beinsf delivered and 

 weighed, it proved only a caret short of the requisite 

 wciirht, all seemed to sympathize in his disappointment." 

 It is calculated, that only '2 or :-i stones of from ]7 to 90 

 carats are found in the course of a year : and not once in 

 2 years is there ibund throughout all the diamond-wash- 

 ings a stone weighing 30 carats. During the five days in 

 which Mr. Mawe was employed in visiting tlie works tlio 

 number of diamonds found did not exceed 40. 



