submitted them to the operation of melting, and obtained tin at the rate of 1-8th. The Count of Palma, at that time, viz. 1813, governor and captain-general of the province, forbade the extraction till it should be declared free by the court of Rio, on which all the affair depended, but the court never came to a decision on the subject; however, whoever chose melted the sands with impunity. The emperor has now declared every manner of mining to be free, which his father had already done in 1808, when he then permitted the unrestrained exertion of all species of industry in Brazil.

Quicksilver is in such great quantities, that it often appears combined in amalgama with gold, especially in Villa Rica, Trypuhy, and Hocolomi, where there is much cinnabar. From indolence this branch is abandoned in those auriferous parts, though alone it is capable of enriching many persons.*

There is not much copper; but in Sto. Vincente-Ferrer, oxid of that metal has been found.

Antimony is very common in the Camarca of Sabará, but nobody extracts it. Arsenic is frequently found in the lavras of Villa Rica; it has been fatal to many miners.

Iron is so abundant, that it is not necessary to speak of it particularly: it is found and melted every where, but nowhere with method.

I shall not occupy myself with other metals, being of less interest. Cinnabar and pyrites are very plentiful, and inexhaustible mines of sulphur are anticipated.

There is a considerable cordilhera of lime-stone, which has the same direction (from South to North) as the great cordilheira previously mentioned. It commences in the arrail of Mucaubas, runs more than fifty leagues through the province, and divides it in Geraes and Certaons. In this region there are large natural mines, and those magnificent subterraneous excavations are sometimes very profitable, as the earth, which exists or is deposited there being washed every year, produces an abundant quantity of nitre. This region runs also through Alagoa Santa, Guinta do Sumidsiro,§ Serra do Baldim, Trayras Barra, as far as Formigas. Gold is very rare at the foot of this mountainous

tract.

Mining of Precious Stones.

Serro do frio is not the only place abounding in diamonds, which are also found at Serra do Gram Mogol, in the river Ita-Cambyrosu, in that Joquistinha, which last forms the limits of the Villa do Portoseguro, at Serra do Andayú, Rio Abaithe, &c. and in a great part of Rio de Sto. Francisco; the amount of the superficies declared to produce diamonds is 35 quadratic leagues. As the extraction of diamonds belongs exclusively to the government, I shall dwell but a short time on the subject.

The mountain of Oiro branco, rich in every thing, is so also in topazes of all colours, except green and blue. They exist in strata, pursuing the same direction as the layers of stone; they are intermingled with strata of Pisarra thick and brittle.

The place called Capamdolana, on the east of the mountain, is the richest ; nevertheless the master of that mine is poor from the bad method he employs in mining.

The river Ita-marandimba, which flows principally in the territory of Minas Novas, is very rich in gold and emeralds. Its springs are judged to be still richer, but being in the forest of the Botecudos anthropophagi, they are un

• This advantage is unknown, because they are unable to distil it from the want of retorts, which cannot be conveyed from Rio in consequence of the badness of the roads, and there is no glass manufactory in the Brazils except that at Bahya.

↑ Certao is the denomination for the west part of that tract, where the province is less mountainous; and Gerves for the eastern part where it is more so.

Marine salt is extracted also with nitre, though in small quantities; however, in the Certao, there are very extensive places where the soil of the fields being washed produces mineral salt, which is used by the midland inhabitants.

§ A river runs there at the foot of the tract to the extent of five leagues; its waters are medicinal, as well as those of Alagoa Santa.

known. The extraction of those minerals would be very easy if ably undertaken, since the river can be turned with facility from its bed, having many falls and very deep wells, from which the riches it contains could be brought to light.*

The river of Ita-ingat has inexhaustible mines of white topazes, of variouscoloured crystals, aigue-marina, and very rare sapphire. In this river, which runs in the district of Minas Novas, some hyacinths and crysolites have been found. Being in the unexplored forest in the northern part of the river Joquitinhanha, its source is unknown.

The savages of that quarter, although Botecudos, are not anthropophagi, like those of the other parts; and would soon have familiarized themselves with the Brazilians if a better and more politic conduct had been pursued towards them. J. J. da Fonceca, as the chief of a Bandeira of thirty-five men, penetrated into this forest in the year 1811; they did not enter more than thirty or thirty-two leagues, and at that distance found a stream tolerably rich in precious stones, from which in eight days they drew more than an arrobe (32 pounds) of aigues-marina of divers sizes, one of them weighing 2 pounds. They likewise obtained many crysolites, amethysts, and tourmalines; having at length exhausted their stock of provisions, they quitted the forest. A few days after they re-entered with additional numbers, and at the end of five days' travel, they discovered a horde of aborigines, who voluntarily approached them, presenting their wives and children with all the signs of satisfaction; these savages pryed into every thing appertaining to the Bandeira, eagerly appropriating to themselves whatever they could lay hold of made of iron,|| and then marched off. As the Bandeira could not work without iron, they went out of the forest to replace what they had been deprived of, and on their return presented some trifling knives to the savages, which highly delighted them; and in this way a familiar intercourse might soon have been established. But being unable to continue their labours, as the rainy weather began to set in (in the forest the rains commence much earlier than in the open fields), and the mos quitos and motucos¶ always swarming at this period, added to which the febris quartana attacking them, they necessarily waited till the next season. The good success of this expedition excited other Bandeiras to enter the forest the ensuing season before Fonceca, but as their behaviour to the Indians was quite the reverse of what his had been, the exasperated savages drove them out of their woody domain, and then proceeded into the fields** and assaulted the little Povoacao called Guarda Mor J. dos Passos.++

The poor people have an iron pole to which they fix a leather bag; this they plunge into the rivers, and draw it up full of the substances deposited in the bed, which they wash. In this way they obtain diamonds in the forbidden waters unknown to the guards.

+ Here they can only be worked in the rainy season, because the soil is so sandy it absorbs the river, which only appears when it meets with a stratum of stones that causes the water to overflow; and as without water their operations cannot go on, they, of course, select wet weather for them.

There are several distinct tribes of savages in Brazil; they call Botecudos, those who bore their ears--[Europe also can boast of her Botecudos, with this slight difference; that, instead of boring their own ears, they bore those of others.-Translator.]—and lips, and stick slight pieces of wood in them; this they consider a great embellishment, as it gives them an aspect of wildness and ferocity, the chief quality according to their " untutor'd minds.

§ The most expressive sign of peace these savages can give is to present their families.

They like no metal but iron, for pointing their arrows; when that is wanting they sharpen pieces of crystal in lieu of it. In some parts of the province spangles of gold are occasionally found on the necks of the sick savages.

A species of venomous fly.

** It is very seldom that the savages are seen out of the forests, as, being quite naked, the sun inflames their skin, and, moreover, because the trees serve them for a retrenchment in time of war, a security which they do not find in the fields.

†† This is the forest where an aigue-marina was found weighing 15lbs, which

Throughout the whole province there are crystals of all qualities.

In the Arrail dos Poreos, in Sabará, there are very fine marble quarries, which are made no use of.

In the Certoens, and even in Sabará, is found a sort of soapy stone, that serves for pots, kettles, and vases, which are fire-proof. In Rio de Cantos there is a large quarry of this stone, which is worked like jasper, and has nearly the same consistency; its colour is white and diaphanous-some have blue, green, fleshcolour, and red veins.

It cannot be said that Minas Geraes is mined, since the want of method, knowledge and means has annihilated mining. The mountains may be called still virgins; and if sometimes there is an excavation, it only evidences the superficial skill of the miners, who, in fact, merely extract what nature manifests to them.*

The Portuguese domination was the cause of arresting this important branch of human industry, from an apprehension that Brazil, fruitful in materials for exciting the active energies of man, might at length employ those energies in a still more golden cause-to shake off the iron yoke that had too long and too blightingly oppressed her; but, in spite of all the steps taken by the late stepmother country, to undermine enterprize and check the slow but sure progression of human knowledge, Brazil is now independent, and, like the precious diamonds of her too long neglected soil, freed from base dross and unnatural alloy, begins to shine forth in her native and unsullied splendour. The system of the defunct government was entirely a system of prohibition; a capitalist of 400,000,000 rees could not, in consequence, find employment for such a sum, or any thing near it, in Brazil.

Moreover, it was not permitted to form companies for any purpose whatever. The melting of iron was forbidden that the miners might be compelled to buy it of the government at the rate of 300 rees per pound. Gunpowder, salt, and, in short, every thing arrived at Minas so overcharged with duties, that it was impossible to form large establishments. Add to this that the Portuguese did not excite any improvement whatsoever, their whole and sole aim being to procure gold and then to return to Portugal; and they looked upon it as beneath them to form a matrimonial connexion with a Brazilian woman, however superior to them she might be in birth and fortune. The degrading system of slavery, dreadful for its victims is, as it were by retributive justice, equally ruinous for their masters. Slaves are a bad race and growing worse every day;†

Manoel Vierra gave to the King Don John VI. in 1811. It was registered for 16,000,000 rees, the sum offered for it by some Englishmen at Rio.

In the year 1789, when P.. F.. V.. was Intendente do Oiro do Sabará, a miner appeared in that intendancy with a large chest full of a white mineral, who addressed himself to a gentleman, stating that he had discovered a mine of the same metal, and not knowing what to make of it, had brought it to be examined. "If it should prove to be silver," said he, "my fortune is made, for there is a great quantity in my fields; but if it turns out to be only tin, why then I shall be less rich." The founder took a parcel of it, and perceiving that it had no ductility, told him it was a metal bravo (base metal). The man retired leaving the metal, and they had not the precaution to take his name. It is said that though he came afterwards to inquire whether any trial had been made of it, nobody had thought proper to take the trouble of ascertaining its quality! In 1802 or 1803, the founder, being dead, was succeeded in his place by Antonio dos Santas Pereira, who deemed it his duty to examine this same metal bravo; he accordingly submitted it to the ordeal of the coppel, and extracted gold at the rate of 24-32, iron 3-32, and platina 5-32. The great quantity of metal it contained being thus proved, it was melted on account of him who could show the place whence it had been extracted, and the fact was made as public as possible. The owner, however, did not appear, and the bar is still existing. The founder supposed it to be a mixture of metals produced by some volcanic convulsion, since it seemed to him to have undergone a fusion. It is of an ash-colour, and exhaled some sulphur when melting. This treasure must, doubtless, have been found in the Camarca of Sabará.

But they who degrade their fellow-men to slaves, are more detestable.- Trans M.M. New Series.-VOL. I. No. 4.

3 F

the benefit accruing from the unwilling labour of one of those poor wretches is frequently so trifling, as not to furnish the means of supplying his successor.

After all I have shewn of its natural wealth, is it not matter of admiration that in the province of Minas Geraes, where so much gold is extracted, there should be found so few rich families and good houses? But the prosperity of families decays with the industry that raised and sustained it.

It may be truly said that Portugal has been the butcher of the coast of Africa by her iniquitous practice of exporting its inhabitants as slaves, and of Brazil by bestowing on it the system known under the name of the System of the Mother Country.

The justice of Providence has ordained that Portugal should herself make an ample atonement to Brazil, by giving her an emperor who seems destined to pay her for the long series of extortions and oppressions she had endured. This young prince, in the midst of revolutions that disturbed Brazil, has excited improvements which present his adopted country, to the civilized world, in a new and promising aspect. The army, navy, commerce, literature, arts, roads, &c., have all received great improvements during the three years he has governed. The establishment of the English mining associations is amongst the most brilliant measures taken by his government for the advance and encouragement of industry; without them it would be impossible to undertake any thing of importance and the following statement verifies my assertion from experience.

The king, Don John the Sixth, had sent Baron Echweg, the German before quoted, to Minas Geraes, to investigate the state of mining in the country, and to propose the necessary improvements, but especially to make an analysis of the galena of Andayà. He began his investigations in the year 1812, and, wishing to avail himself of the liberty granted by the king to all foreigners to mine, as well as the natives under the same laws, he erected an engine on the banks of the river that flows by the city of Oiro preto, a work which, to use a homely phrase, was " much better for show than for service;" however he put it in action, and, having no lavra of his own, employed his engine to cleanse the grit of stones, that had escaped the miners of the mountain where the river took its course.

This badly calculated speculation failed for want of a mine, and it is said he did not gather a single ounce of gold; at length the engine stopt, and the wood which entered into its composition not having been properly chosen, began to decay. The Baron, disquieted for the 3,000,000 rees which he had expended for the engine, endeavoured to sell it, but nobody would buy a machine without lavra, and so complicated, and containing such a great quantity of wood, as to be almost useless. He therefore contrived and executed the following ruse.

He proposed to the king to form a mining company under his direction, which his Majesty granted; but his ministers, always Portuguese, were fearful to behold Brazil flourishing: they foresaw the good which would result to the country if the king's concession for large capitals was decreed, and wishing, in the event of the monarch's return to Lisbon, to prevent Brazil, in a prosperous state, from assuming the attitude she since has so nobly done, and which they always predicted she would attempt to do-in short anxious that Portugal might not lose those colonies, they managed so ministerially as to have the royal permission dwindled to a decree for a fund of 12,000,000 rees only.

The Baron, who had not the prosperity of the province in view, but merely the sale of his engine, made no remonstrance to the king, who, in that case, would certainly have revised the decree, but proceeded to Minas to form the company, having found some shareholders in Rio de Janeiro-each share being 400,000 rees.

Thus placed at the "head and front" of the association, the Baron commenced by shearing the shareholders of his promised "golden fleece"-in other words, he collected the share-money, and the first thing he bought for the use of the society was his own already rotten engine, for the sum of 2,400,000 rees. When the worthy Baron had so adroitly indemnified himself, and had purchased some slaves for mining, also two lavras, he again put his wits in requisition to

shew how very useful the engine was for the company; he accordingly procured stones for the service of this marvellous machine, which were brought from the distance of half a league on the heads of negroes and on the backs of fourfooted beasts of burden: this unexecutable mode of mining lasted some fifteen or twenty days, at the expiration of which he was obliged to let out the negroes for their living.

The governor of the province, seeing that the scheme was about to be abandoned, and that the Baron was preparing to return to Germany, ordered other administrators and share-holders to be named, the negroes to be sent back to the lavras, and the engine to be given up. In 1823 the association began to revive under the direction of Colonel Fernando de Magalhaes.

In 1824 the administrator, Colonel Joaquin Ferreira, had the following statement published in the Diario Fluminense do Rio de Janeiro of the 25th of February.

By this exposition it will be seen that as soon as a better administration directed the company's affairs, the fund of £2,167 18s. produced a profit of £827 4s. 4d. From the price fixed for the Baron's engine, its advantage and quality may be estimated.

The above exposition will also show to England the benefits of mining in Brazil, now that the old impolitic precautions no longer exist, and are replaced by a good administration, in which lies all the secret of the machinery.

I will here offer a few observations on the grant made to Mr. Oxenfort. This gentleman has caused to depend upon imperial concession things which had been long since accorded. Having once obtained permission to form his company, it was not necessary to limit the ground he pretended to mine; and, as each miner is free to sell his lavras to any person or society of persons, why thus restrict himself, by submitting the matter to his Imperial Majesty?

The concession by which the company were allowed to buy two abandoned lavras was granted with a complete ignorance of what a lavra signifies*. It is

A Lavra is a portion of land granted by a Goardo Mor for mining. They are generally of one, two, or more dattas, each datta comprizing above three hundred quadratic cubicks. There are some persons who have ten or twenty dattas, and these are the largest in all the province. Does Mr. Oxenfort, on two of those superficies, intend to employ the whole capital of the company? Assuredly in two lavras he