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THE BRAGANZA.
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one
half carats) was crowned with a wreath of flowers and carried in
procession to the administrator who gave him his freedom and two new
suits of clothes. The fortunate negro, moreover, then received
permission to work in the mines on his own account.
During Mawe's stay at Tejuco a negro found a very large diamond, which with much eagerness he took to be weighed.
"
It was pleasing to see the anxious desire of the officers that it might
prove heavy enough to entitle the poor negro to his freedom, and when
on being delivered and weighed it proved only one carat short of the
requisite weight all seemed to sympathize in his disappointment." -
Even
now after all these years one cannot help feeling regret for the high
hopes of that humble slave so sadly blighted. But those who build their
fortunes on diamonds are sometimes bitterly disappointed. Harken to
this anecdote from the pen of the same traveler in Brazil. He was
waiting for an escort to the mines and had meditated taking a couple of
soldiers,, when
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