142 THE BRAGANZA.
a
singular occurrence furnished him with two miners who were appointed to
attend him, and whose conduct he pleasantly says deserved every
commendation. A free negro from Villa do Principe, some mine hundred
miles from Rio Janeiro, wrote to the Prince Regent that he had in his
possession an amazingly large diamond which had been bequeathed to him
by a friend. The negro was desirous of personally offering it to the
Prince whose fondness for diamonds was pretty well known. The Prince
commanded the negro to come to the capital immediately, and as the
recognized owner of an immense diamond must not travel meanly, he had a
carriage and escort given to him. After twenty-eight days of traveling,
during which time he was the envied of all beholders, he arrived at Rio
Janeiro and was straightway brought to the palace and speedily
thereafter into the presence of the Regent. His HighÂness, well
accustomed to large gems, since he used to wear the Braganza around his
neck,
