■iEMS. 
of 'I’-tr > 
5*60 MINESj METALS, AND 
’W'ei'* induced to lay aside in consequence - 
•cuiar shape and great beauty, although they were 
of their intrinsic value. * 
The diamond works on the river Jigitonhonh® ‘ 
scribed by Mr. Mawe as the most iniportant in 
lian tenitory. The river, in depth from three i*i 
is intersected by a canal, beneath the head of , 
stopped by an embankment, of several thousand _ y, 
sand, its deeper parts being laid dry by chain-p'^'^^oi '•’**'1 
imid is now washed away, and the cascalliao> p 
■which contains the diamonds, dug up, and rcinn'^Jc^ 
is as ' 
snPP » 
convenient place for wa.shlng. The process is 
A shed, consisting of upright posts, which 
thatched roof, is erected in tlie form of a paralle'*’® 
length about ninety feet, and in width forty-h'’^.^,aVC.'j 
the middle of its area a cutTent of water i^ . jfli , 
through a canal covered with strong planks, 
earth is laid to the thickness of two or three fc®*'’., n* 
a flooring of planks, 
ether side of the area is „ vl - 
to fifteen feet in length, imbedded in clay, cx*® ^ 
whole length of the shed, and having a gentle 
the canal. This flooring is divided into about . 
partments, or troughs, each about three fe®^ „„e< ^ 
Liuugiis, eacn aoout; tnree w'-" ppP | 
means of planks placed on their edge ; and th® 
tlie ^ fii j 
them 1’®’’ 
of these troughs communicate with 
formed that water is admitted into 
planks about an inch separate from each u 
tills opening the cun'ent falls aSout six inches into 
and may be directed to any part of it, or stopP®^[(,ii^ 
sure, by means, of a .small quantity of clay- 
lower dnds of the troughs a small channel is 
off the water. 
On tlie heap of earth, at equal distances. 
tlit^. 
chairs are placed for the overseers, who are no‘®^'j 
'*>5 
-.w* I.4IW v> » \.Aowv_i r>, WIIKJ A'*' . . ^ ’ M 
than the negroes enter the troughs, each proV® ,i]c, 5 
J1 nrAj-nUni* I ? I. 
rake of a peculiar form, and having a short j'®’’ - 
a 
which he rakes into the trough from fifty to jj'yf 
weight of the earth. , Tlie w'ater being then 
]iass in by degrees, the earth is spread atiroa®' 
iiually raked up to the head of the trough, so J 'bj 
iiually raked up to Uie head of the trough, so ■;*" .4 >'j 
m constant motion. This operation is conO 
quarter of an hour, when the water begins to ^ 
