Much gold is certainly brought from these mines, but at an expence of life that must strike every man, to whom custom has not made it familiar, with horror.  No less than forty thousand negroes are annually imported, on the king’s account, to dig the mines; and we were credibly informed, that, the last year but one before we arrived here, this number fell so short, probably from some epidemic disease, that twenty thousand more were draughted from the town of Rio.

Precious stones are also found here in such plenty, that a certain quantity only is allowed to be collected in a year; to collect this quantity, a number of people are sent into the country where they are found, and when it is got together, which sometimes happens in a month, sometimes in less and sometimes in more, they return; and after that, whoever is found in these precious districts, on any pretence, before the next year, is immediately put to death.

The jewels found here, are diamonds, topazes of several kinds, and amethysts.  We did not see any of the diamonds, but were informed that the viceroy had a large quantity by him, which he would sell on the king of Portugal’s account, but not at a less price than they are sold for in Europe.  Mr Banks bought a few topazes and amethysts as specimens:  Of the topazes there are three sorts, of very different value, which are distinguished by the names of pinga d’agua qualidade primeiro, pinga d’agua qualidade secundo, and chrystallos armerillos:  They are sold, large and small, good and bad together, by octavos, or the eighth part of an ounce; the best at 4s. 9d.  All dealing, however, in these stones, it prohibited to the subject under the severest penalties:  There were jewellers here formerly, who purchased and worked them on their own account; but about fourteen months before our arrival, orders came from the court of Portugal, that no more stones should be wrought here, except on the king’s account:  The jewellers were ordered to bring all their tools to the viceroy, and left without any means of subsistence.  The persons employed here to work stones for the king are slaves.

The coin that is current here, is either that of Portugal, consisting chiefly of thirty-six shillings pieces; or pieces both of gold and silver, which are struck at this place:  The pieces of silver, which are very much debased, are called petacks, and are of different value, and easily distinguished by the number of rees that is marked on the outside.  Here is also a copper coin, like that in Portugal, of five and ten ree pieces.  A ree is a nominal coin of Portugal, ten of which are equal in value to about three farthings sterling.