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184 THE DIAMOND
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cora
and Cannavieiras, all but the latter being on the Paraguassu river and
its tributaries and the tributaries of the Rio Sao Francisco. Not only
are the Paraguassu fields much more extensive, but they are also more
productive. The diamonds from that section are also finer, but not as
perfect usually as those of the Cannavieiras district. The most
productive part of the Paraguassu fields is about four days journey
from Bahia city. The route is by small steamer across the bay and up
the Paraguassu river about 45 miles to Cachoeira, a journey of six to
eight hours, then by train next day 155 miles to Bandeira de Mello,
consuming ten to twelve hours, from which point there is a two days'
journey of 64 miles by mule to Andarahy.
Another
way to the Bahia fields, is to go by the Bahia and Sao Francisco
Railway north to Queimadas or Villa Nova, and from either of those
points to the interior by mule-back, or to continue on to Joazeiro by
rail and then by boat up the Sao Francisco, going south from there by
mule-back. This route taps the dia-mondiferous district lying between
Rio Jacare and Rio do Salitre, or at Chique-Chique brings one near to
the fields extending south to the mountain between the Rio Paramirim on
the west and the Lencoes district on the east. The Bandeira de Mello
route reaches the fields which extend from Morro do Chapeo in the north
through Lencoes and Mocuge to Sincora in the south.
Diamonds
are found at Joao Amaro, 103 miles from Cachoeira, in the bed of the
river, but very few are found between there and Andarahy. The
Paraguassu fields extend from the village of Sincora in the south to
the Serra do Tombador in the north, and from east of
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