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BRAZILIAN DIAMONDS
overseers.
On the least suspicion attached to a man he was vigorously purged. His
mouth was examined, and his whole naked body underwent a survey by men
skilled in detectÂing strange hiding places for diamonds. Similar
precautions were adapted in India with regard to visitors who went to
see the diamond mines. They were such that no female was likely to
visit them twice. For all this it was believed that fine diamonds were
constantly stolen by the Brazilian slaves, and no doubt their Indian
brethren were equally dexterous in stealing.
Meanwhile,
the Portuguese crown jewels had grown to be a fabulously rich
collection. No accurate estimate could be placed on its tremendous
value, for the secret was jealously guarded. But this was not to last.
In 1822, among the wave of revolutions sweeping South America, Brazil
was reborn an independent empire, and a republic was established in
1889. Now mining is done by any one who can afford to pay the taxes set
by the republican governÂment.
In
1850 the Brazilian mines were at their height. Slavery was still in
vogue; men and women alike, black and white, worked under their
master's lash. It is interesting to note that rewards were occasionally
given out to these wretched people for finding a large diamond and
surrendering it promptly to the landowner. For a stone eight to ten
carats, the prize consisted of a new suit of clothes, a hat and a
knife. The fortunate slave no longer clapped his hands in the old style
of signal. He might receive his freedom after finding a stone weighing
more than an oitava and a half;
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