The evening times., 1899-03-22
ABANDONED DIAMOND MINES.
Those of Brazil Once Important. But
Now Comparatively Neglected.
(From the ST. James Gazette.

1t is not generally remembered that
Brazil was at one time the most important
diamond dproducing country in the world.
We are reminded of this fact by the Sec
ond Secretary of the British Legation at
Rio who has just sent home a report on
a journey to that part of the country,
Minas Gereas, whence this mineral has
been obtained in greatest quantity. Mr..
Beaumont tells us that though the quality
of the Brazilian stones still makes them
more valuable than any others, diamond
mining has of late been comparatively
neglected, the industry being now, for the
most part, carried ON by single individuals
''garimpeiros, or small associations, work
ing with rude and obsolete machinery. A
company known as the Boa Vista has re-
Gently been formed in Paris with a capital
of 100000 francs. to carry on work on a
systematic basis and on a large scale, for
very long period and if it succeeds the
industry will no doubt receive great i'm
petus therefrom.
Mr.. Beaumont's journey was undertaken
partly through curiosity to visit a little
known country and partly in the hope of
learning something of the methods and
prospects in vogue, especially those of the
new company, from which such great
things are expected The company's op-
erations are centred about the town of
Diamantina, place founded by band
of st. Paulo and Portuguese adventurers
in the seventeenth century Dia-
monds were discovered in this locality
about the year 1928. Between 1772 and
1906, the period OF the most active produc-
ton. the diamond mines produced 1.03O. .305
carats at cost which averaged 40s per
carat between 1772 and 1885, 72s ed per
carat between 1896 and 1S00 and 32s be-
tween 1901 and 1906. During the same
period gold was extracted. amounting in
value to G197.41 From 1772 to 1S4S, un-
der the administration of the Real Ex-
traccao," eighty stones were found of an
ottawa Us carats) or more. The gems ex-
tracted, after the largest and best had
been set aside for the crown, were sold
by contract at from about 37s to sos
carat.
For sixteen years at the beginning of
the present century the banking houses of
Hope in Holland and of Barring in London
controlled the mines, the output of which
was assigned to them in repayment of
loan of II, 600 900 florins. Then the Govern
ment took hold of the administration, and
continued to do SO until 1S45. In that year
it was decided by decree that the lands
should be put up at auction every four
years, the reserve price being 80 reis (2d)
a ''braca," but its provisions were never
carried out, being modified by the law of
1852, which recognized the rights of all
those who already effectively occupied min
ing lots on payment Of l real per 'braca
quadrada." The term of occupation might
be indefinitely extended. Lands not yet
occupied were to be put up at auction, the
reserve price being real per 'tbarca quad
rada.'' Between 1772 and 1S43 1854, 700
carats were taken out of the Real Ex-
traccao." Since that date mining has been
carried on exclusively by private individ-
fualS and mostly on a small scale The
total production of Brazil up to 1880 is esti-
mated by M. Garceix at two and one-haf
TONS It is impossible to form an accurate
estimate of the present production, but it
is probably about 40. 900 carats a year. in
Guiding the Bahia diamond fielC3.