They caught him in a net. Sam knew him by the twist in
his tail.--_Blackwood's Magazine_.
* * * * *
DIAMONDS IN BRAZIL.
The operation of working for these precious jems is a very simple one. The
alluvial soil (the cascalhao) is dug up from the bed of the river, and
removed to a convenient spot on the banks for working. The process is as
follows:--a rancho is erected about a hundred feet long, and half that
distance in width; down the middle of the area is conveyed a canal,
covered with earth; on the other side of the area is a flooring of planks,
about sixteen feet in length, extending the whole length of the shed, and
to which an inclined direction is given; this flooring is divided into
troughs, into which is thrown a portion of the cascalhao; the water is
then let in, and the earth raked until the water becomes clear; the earthy
particles having been washed away, the gravel is raked up to the end of
the trough; the largest stones are thrown out, and afterwards the smaller
ones, the whole is then examined with great care for diamonds.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51