tending the whole length of the shed; and having a gentle slope from the canal. This flooring is divided by means of planks placed edgewise, into about twenty compartments or troughs, each about three feet wide. The upper ends of these troughs communicate with the canal, and are so formed that water is admitted into them between two planks, that are placed about an inch asunder. Through this opening the current falls, about six inches, into the trough, and may be directed to any part of it, or, if necessary, even stopped entirely out by a small quantity of clay. At the lower ends of the troughs a channel is dug, to carry off the water.

At equal distances, on the heap of cascalhao, which extends the whole length of the shed, are placed three high chairs for the officers or overseers. After these

officers are seated, the negroes enter the troughs, each provided with a rake of peculiar form, with which he rakes into the trough from fifty to eighty pounds weight of cascalhao. The water being then let in, the cascalhao is spread about and continually raked up to the head of the trough, so as to be kept in constant motion. This operation is performed for about a quarter of an hour: the water then begins to run clearer, in consequence of the earthy particles having been washed away. After this the gravel-like matter that remains is raked up to the end of the trough; and, as soon as the current flows away quite clear, and the largest stones are thrown out, and afterwards those of inferior size; and then the whole contents of the troughs are examined with great care for diamonds.

When a negro has found a diamond, he immediately stands upright and clasps his hands, and then extends them, holding the gem between his fore-finger and thumb. An overseer receives it from him, and deposits it in a gamella or bowl, which is suspended from the centre of the building, half full of water. In this vessel all the diamonds found in the course of the day are placed; and, at the close of the work, they are taken out and delivered to the principal officer, who, after having weighed them, registers the particulars in a book kept for that purpose.

When a negro is fortunate enough to find a diamond of

the weight of an octavo (17 carats*), much ceremony takes place. He is crowned with a wreath of flowers, and is carried in procession to the administrator, who gives him his freedom. He also receives a present of new clothes, and is permitted to work on his own account. When a stone of eight or ten carats weight is found, the negro receives two new shirts, a new suit of clothes, a hat, and a handsome knife. For smaller stones pro

portionate rewards are given.

Many precautions are requisite to prevent the negroes from embezzling diamonds. Although they work in a bent position, and consequently never know whether the overseers be watching them or not, yet it is easy for them to omit gathering any that they see; and to place them in a corner of the trough, for the purpose of secreting them at their leisure hours. To prevent this, they are frequently changed while the operation is going on. A word of command being given by the overseers, they instantly move into each others troughs, so that no opportunity of collusion can take place. If a negro be suspected of having swallowed a diamond, he is confined in a strong room until the fact be ascertained. The punishment inflicted for smuggling diamonds is imprisonment and chastisement.

Mr. Mawe having detailed the process of washing for diamonds, he proceeds to a general description of the situations in which these stones are found.

During the five days that he was at Mandanga, the whole number of diamonds that were found amounted only to forty, the largest of them was only of four carats weight, and was of a light green colour.

After this Mr. M. was conducted to a diamond work, called Montero, about two miles up the river; and, about a league farther, to a gold work, called Carapata. While he was here, six negroes, in the course of four hours, found as much gold as weighed near twenty

ounces.

In the afternoon the party returned to Tejuco. In

A carat is equal to four jeweller's grains, seven of which are equal to six grains of troy weight,

the treasury at Tejuco are deposited, monthly, all such diamonds as are received from the different works in the neighbourhood. They are carefully weighed, and some of them are selected and kept separate. The average quantity obtained may be estimated at from twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand carats annually. They are afterwards sent, under a military escort to Rio, are there lodged in the treasury. They are tied up in black silk bags; and are deposited in elegant cabinets; and the whole are locked up in strong chests bound with iron.

It had been the intention of Mr. M. to continue his journey eastward from Tejuco, to a celebrated mining district, called Minas Novas; but he was prevented by illness from accomplishing this intention,

At some distance from Tejuco is a rivulet called Abaite, celebrated for having produced the largest diamond which the prince regent of Portugal ever possessed. It was found, about the year 1800, by three men who had been banished for their crimes into the interior of that country. These men, who had been forbidden to approach any of the capital towns, or to remain in civilized society, endeavoured to explore new mines, in unfrequented parts of the country, in the hope that, sooner or later, they might have the good fortune to make some important discovery, which would obtain a reversal of their sentence. They wandered about for more than six years, during which time, though exposed to excessive hardships and fatigue, they made frequent searches in the various rivers of the adjacent districts. At length they accidentally made some trials in the river Abaite, at a time when its waters were particularly low; and they had the good fortune to discover a diamond that was nearly an ounce in weight. Elated by this discovery, which, at first, they could scarcely believe to be real; and hesitating between a dread of the rigorous laws relative to diamonds, and the hope of recovering their liberty, they ventured to consult a clergyman of the neighbourhood. This gentleman advised that they should trust to the mercy of the state: he accompanied them to Villa Rica, and procured them access to the governor. They threw themselves at his feet; delivered

P

the gem on which their hopes rested, and related to him all the circumstances connected with the discovery of it. The governor, astonished at its magnitude, called for the officers of the jewel department, to ascertain whether it really was a diamond. This was soon decided; and, being thus in possession of the largest diamond that had ever been found in America, he determined to suspend the sentence of the men, as a reward for their having delivered it to him; and to send it immediately to Lisbon, and the clergyman along with it, to state the particulars concerning its discovery. The sovereign confirmed the pardon of the delinquents, and rewarded the clergyınan for the trouble he had undergone.

GOLD AND SILVER MINES.

SOUTH AMERICA.

(Modern Travels.)

THE mountains of less height, which occupy the central parts of Peru, abound in mines of gold, silver, copper, and other metals; and the most valuable and productive mines are always found in mountains of the most desolate and unpromising appearance. The business of mining is here carried on to a great extent. In the year 1791, there were wrought sixty-nine mines of gold, seven hundred and eighty-four of silver, four of quicksilver, four of copper, and twelve of lead; and the average profits of the gold and silver mines of Peru, estimated on ten years preceding 1789, amounted to nearly three millions and a half of dollars per annum. There is a famous mine of quicksilver at Guancavelica. This mine was discovered in 1566. It was purchased by the king of Spain four years afterwards, and, since that time, has continued to be a part of the royal domains.

Potosi is a place of considerable celebrity, on account of the numerous and valuable silver mines in its vicinity. The origin of these is stated to have been accidental. In the year 1545, an Indian was pursuing some wild goats to the mountain of Potosi, when arriving at a very steep part, he laid hold of a small shrub, in order to ascend with greater security; but the shrub giving way, was

torn up by the roots, and discovered beneath it a mass of silver. On further examination, the Indian found some lumps of the same metal among the clods which adhered so the roots. For a little while he kept the discovery secret, and applied the silver which he collected to his own use. His resources were, however, at length made known, and the mine was worked without delay, and with so much advantage that, for a long time, it is said to have weekly produced silver to the value of near forty thousand dollars. The mountain in which this silver was found, consists of a yellowish kind of clay slate. It is about twenty miles in circumference, three thousand eight hundred feet high, and is now perforated by more than three hundred shafts or pits. It is wholly destitute of vegetation, in consequence of the numerous furnaces that are employed upon it; and these in the night form a grand and singular spectacle. The veins of silver were at first so near the surface, that the ore was easily extracted; and this was so rich that it was refined with. little trouble, and at small expense. For about thirty years the simple mode of refining by fusion was adopted; but, since that period, mercury or quicksilver has been used in the operation. An hundred and twenty mills were formerly employed; but the produce of the mines has of late been greatly diminished.

At the royal mine town of Guancavelica, the mountains are so rich in gold, silver, quicksilver, copper, and lead, that, if the mines were wrought even with moderate industry and skill, they might be made to yield a greater quantity of the metals than would be requisite for the supply of the whole world. And, says Mr. Helms, it is perhaps a fortunate circumstance that the ignorance of the miners and the oppressive measures of the Spanish government should hitherto have prevented more from being drawn from this inexhaustible source than has been hitherto obtained, otherwise, in Europe, gold and silver must have been depreciated to an inconvenient degree.

Guancavelica is peculiarly celebrated on account of its rich quicksilver mine. This had however been wrought in the most ignorant manner imaginable. Yet, when Mr. Helms was here, though the pit had fallen in,