Famous Brazilian Diamonds

Brazil, rich in mines of precious stones, would naturally be supposed to possess valuable jewels; and in fact the crown diamonds of this empire are valued at more than $18,600,000.

Among the principal diamonds is that which, cut in a pyramid, adorns the handle of the cane of John VI., and is estimated at $162,192. Brazil has furnished also the twenty diamonds which form the twenty buttons of the doublet of ceremony of Joseph I., each one of which is valued at $23,250; the whole costume representing a sum of $465,000.

But the marvel among these productions of Brazil is the Star of the South. This extraordinary diamond was found in 1853 in the mines of Bogagan, by a poor negress. The rough diamond weighed 257 1/2 carats. It has been purchased by M. Helphen.

This beautiful diamond has now been cut. It is of an irreproachable purity, transparent, and taking by refraction a lovely rose tint.

The Star of the South was cut at Amsterdam in the establishment of M. Coster; and no better example could be given of the difference between a rough diamond and one that has been cut, than is presented by Fig. 39, in which the different views of the Star of the South, in its rough state, are taken from drawings made by the illustrious mineralogist M. Dufrenoy. Figures are also given of the diamond as it now appears.

Among the diamonds found in Brazil are three famous stones belonging to the crown of Portugal.

The first is called the King of Portugal's diamond. It was found in a place called Cay-de-Merin, near the little river of Malhoverde. Mawe says that it weighs 1680 carats. And in Brazil its value is estimated at $1,395,000,000. Only--it has been suggested, that this diamond is a topaz, in which case the millions vanish.

No one is allowed to behold this diamond, which is still in the rough. And since the question of its nature is not tested, it may be presumed that the test is withheld for good reasons.