Delaware weekly advertiser and farmer's journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1827-1828, 1828-05-01

duence of their particular shape and great beau
ty, although they were ignorant of their intrin
sic value. a.
The diamond works on the river Jigitonhonhi
are described by Mr. Nave as the most import
ant in the Brazilian territy. The river, in depth
from three to nine feet, Is intersected BY a canal
beneath the head Of which it is stopped by an
embankment Of several thousand boys of sand,
its deeper parts being laid dry by chain-pumps.
The mud is now washed away, and the cdstdLtdo,
or earth which contains the diamonds, dug up
and removed to convenient place for washing.
The process is as folows;-A shed, consisting
Of upright posts, which support thatched root,
is erected in he form Of a parallelogram, in
length about ninety feet, and in width forty.ive
Down the middle Of its area a current of water
is conveyed througha canal covered with plank,
from twelve to fifteen feet in length, imbedded
in clay, extending the whole length Of the shed,
and having gentle slope from the canal This
flooring is divided into about, twenty compart-
ments or troughs, each about three feet wide,
by means of planks placed Oh their edge, and
the upper end Of these troaghs communicate
with the canal, being so formed that water is
admitted into them between Two planks about
an inch separate from eachothsr. Through this
opening the current falls about six inches into
the trough, and may be directed into any part
of il, or stopped at pIeasuin, BY means offs small
quantity Of clay. Along The lower ends of he
troughs small channel isdng,to carry off the
water.
On the heap, of the earth, atequal distances,
three high chairs are. placed for the overseers,
who are no sooner seated than the negroes enter
the troughs, eachprovided with rake of pc
cnliar form, and having d short handle, with
which he rakesinte the trough from so to SO
pounds weight fthe earth Tho water being
then allowed to pass in by degrees the earth IS
spread abroad, and continually raked up to. the
head OF the trough, so as to be kept in constant
motion. This operation is continued fora quarter
of an hour, when the water begins to run clearer;
and the earthly particles having been washed a.
way, the gravellike matter Is raked up to the
end of the trough. AtIengththe current flow
ing quite clear, the largest stones are thrown
out, and afterwards those Of an inferior size
When negro finds one, he Immediately stands
upright. and claps his hands, he then extends
them, holding the gem between the fore finger
and the thumb. An oveSeer receives Il from
him, and deposits il in bowl, suspended from
the centre Of the structure, and half flled with
water. In this vessel Ill the diamonds found in
the course Of the day are deposited, and at the
close of the work are taken out and delivered
to the principal overseer, who, after they have
been weighed, registers the particulars in book
keptfor that purpose.
When anegro is 80 fortunate as TO find diamond
OF the weight Of seventeen carats and hall, the
Ger amony takes place: he is crowned
with a wreath Of flowers, and carried in process.
sion 20 the administrator who gives hun his
freedom by paying his mister for it. lie also
receives present of new clothes and is per-
mitted to, work On his owl account. For smaller
stones, proportionate p'emiums are given,-
while many precautions are taken 10 prevent |
the negroes from stealing the diamonds with |
which view they are frequently changed by the
overseer., lest these precious gems should be |
concealed inthe corners bf the troughs. When
/ negroi is suspected of lwalowing diamond, |
he is confined in solitarj apartment, and means |
Iaken to bring the gem blight.