NOTICES OF BRAZIL. 



71 



countr)'' by the name of "cascalhao," are found in it, which 

 are submitted to a lavatory process, in such a way as to prevent 

 every opportunity of fraud. The diamond is almost always en- 

 veloped in a ferruginous crust ; therefore, long practice is ne- 

 cessary to enable persons to distinguish them from the flints 

 among which they are imbedded. 



Nor are they procured without expense. It is calculated that 

 every diamond obtained by the government, costs about eight 

 dollars the carat ! Though more than a thousand ounces of 

 diamonds have crossed the Atlantic, since the discovery of the 

 mines, the whole produce of Tejuco has not been put in circu- 

 lation ; because this would be a sure means of reducing the va- 

 lue of a precious stone, which, unlike others, has only an arbi- 

 trary price. The same policy has forbid the opening of the 

 mines of Goias and Matto-Grosso, which are guarded by the 

 ^ government from the incursions of adventurers. 



At the time of the discovery of the famous diamond of the 

 Portuguese crown. South America was so tranquil, that it is 

 looked upon as an important event. It was found in the brook 

 of Abayte, by three malefactors who had been banished, and 

 carried to the governor of mines by an ecclesiastic. Its size 

 was so enormous, that repeated assays were made, before they 

 were convinced of its being in reality a diamond. It was then 

 sent to Lisbon, where it excited universal astonishment, and 

 procured the pardon of the criminals. Afterwards, an explor- 

 ing station was fixed on the banks of the Abayte, but without 

 success ; the diamonds found were of little value, and scarcely 

 defrayed the expense of search. * 



* Dennis. Histoire du Bresil. 



