, 1872-12-08
The Recent Excitement in the
Far West.
Immense Yield of Gems in Brazil---
Process Of Washins---Differ-
ent Co!ors.
Cold Weather on the Plains--.A Animal
Observation-Disclosures
1.-The Mexicaus.

Noy. q, 1872.
s:What do you think about the diamond
dclds?" swell, to tell you the fact, I'm ID
if know" The foregoing is part of the high
toned dialogue I listened to few hours
ago, between two honest miners; and the con-
clusion Of ono Of them is about the same as the
one hare arrived at. do not know whether
diamond-felds exist at all in the Rocky Mount
aims, but do know have aeen what supposed
we're diamonds, and they stood every test they
we're submitted to in the most satisfactory man
ner- This letter was, Of course, written With
out any knowledge Of the recent exposure at
San Francisco.-ED. Tn1DUSE.1 But some peo-
pie, who ought to know, have declared the
whole thing to be Lelusion and snare, and
presume We will have to submit to their decision.
Others however, still maintain that the dia-
mond mines are substantial realities, and that
immense amounts Of precious stones will be
taken from the earth in Colorado and Wyoming
on the return Of warm weather. And now let
us say few words about these handsome
strangers.
DIAlo.,DS ARE FOUND
in Hindostan, Brazil. Sur1atra, Borneo, the Ura1
Mountains, Australia, South Africa, and occas-
ionally in the Eastern States, generally in octa-
hedrel or eiSht-slded crystals, in quartz conglo-
merates containing oxides OF iron; also in earth,
sand, and gravel, in loose and imbedded crystals,
almost always of small size, and most frequent
" in company with grains Of gold and platinum.
Many diamonds were formerly found in India,
but of late years the supply las fallen OF, until
it may be said to have ceased altogether from
that quarter The old India diamonds were su-
perior to those more recently found in Brazil,
and seem to have been moro brilliant. 4 large
quantity OF diamonds are annually sent to
Europe
FRoI BRAZIL,
which IRE found mostly in the aluyial soil in the
districts OF Sierra do Frio, Minas Geraes, and San
Pau1o, and in the beds Of rivers. The Brazilian
miners distinguish the various diamond-pro-
ducing soils in the unused beds Of streams in
small angular fragments of rocks bestrewing the
ground; in fragments Of rocks, sand,
and clay mixed; and in conglomerate
masses which they call cascalho. The
masses Of stone, which rarely exceed a foot in
size, contain Itacolurnite) jasper ESQ named from
the mountain Of ItacolumO and garnets. Dia-
monds are sometimes found on the top Of Isambe
Mountain, $500 feet above the level Of the sea,
and the highest land in the district. These
gems were found in Brazil while people were
searching for gold, their true nature being un-
suspected, and they we're thrown away, or used
rs counters for card-players. True gems con-
ceal their beauties in q natural state, the dia-
nnond in the rough being most unattractiye, and
would be thrown sTay By tho casual observer as
worthless pebble; its perfections arc hidden
under hard crust, which can only be removed
By contact with another diamond, or with dis
uond powder, which is called bort. Many fine
gems have been spoiled while being polished.
SENIOR IoHo,
of Brazil. who had seen rough diamonds in the
IT, L.
value of tie Brazilian diamonds. He car
ried some to Lisbon where tEeir identity was
established Tine European traders we're afraid
the market would be overztocked, and refused
to have anything to do with the American
stones, at the same time pronouncing them val
ueless. 1t Was necessary to send the Brazilian
diamonds to the East Indies, AID thence to Eu-
rope, where the traders were induced to believe
they we're true India gems, before they could
get them accepted by the diamond merchants OF
Of Europe.
The riches Of sone Of the Brazilian diamond
placers
Is EcAcU1AB1E,
aud gold mining is abandoned as unworthy Of
attention, and left to the children. The crops
Of eli the fowls that are killed are carefully e1
ami1led, and often found to contain diamonds.
4 negro once found . stone weighing 20 grains
ndheing to the roots Of 9 cabbage which be had
pulled up for his dinner. Another negro,
who had been working in Minas Geraes,
vas sent to the Bahie district, where, suspect
ing, from the similarity Of the country, that it
was diamond-bearing region, he went to work,
news spread like Wi1dfre, and there was rush
to the new mines. such rs or people witnessed
in later years when the gold mines OF California
we're discovered.
THE YIELD
Of the Brazilian mines has become enormous, but
is now greatly decreasing. In the first fifty
years after their discovery, it is estimated that
500, 600 900 worth were taken out. The dry Sea-
son lasts from April to the middle of October,
when the rivers and streams become very shall
low,-the remaining water being carried off in
Bluiceways, go as to leave the bed OF the stream
dry. The soil is then dug from the bed to the
depth of ten or twelve feet, and piled up near
the washing huts. During the whole Of the dry
seasou, the Workmen continue to dig, and this
dirt contains diamonds in SO regular proportion
that it's value can ba readily estimated. Some
times holes found containing both gold and
diamonds. After the dry season is over, the
washing commences near the streams, which are
now filed with water. The huts near the heaps
Of dirt IRE furnished with long troughs, called
canoes, in which the washing is done. The ne
groes take up enough dirt to ill one OF the
canoes (about 100 pounds), and then allow a.
stream OF water to run in, and continue to stir
up the mnss with their hands until the water
runs clear and all tho earthly particles are
washed away. The pebbles in the bottom Of the
eanoe are then examined one by one, and, when
diamond is found, signal is given. Large
a4da4o4AS d4e VI sG15 ld10 0lNAAcACo3 <1A4 11
En- average Of 10000 stones there will not be
one of 18 carats found.
"hen the labor and pains are considered, the
+: 1t
HARDLY Co1PENsATEs
for the toll The yearly proGucs Of the labor OF
900 men can readily be carried III the hand!
Diamonds are the only Uncut stones that be-
come positively electric BY friction. In their
atesl, and have PECULIAR hard lustre .-ed called
adamantine, in the bright sunlight. They are
the hardest of all Etones and. upol h,:.,.; rubbed
On an emery file, cannot be Ecral.lS,;. though
they will wear hole in the emery. .i4y otc..r
stone is readily ground down On one OF these
files.
THEY ARE OF DIFFERENT coLons.
es white, blue red, yellow, green, pink: brown,
black, opalescent and orange, or yellowish red.
What is known as the rose-diamond refers to
HE peculiarly of it's cutting, and not to its rose
color: As to the value Of diamonds, it is alto
gether: matter Ct fancy though g gem Of
s100. 4 rough diamond, r ting 2 carats, or
5 grains, is worth about 20, as it is es-
1o1f ~ u l, 1r.A H.