pincers, I contrived, after one or two attempts, to extract it. I threw
the diamond without examination into a pan of water which stood by the
bed, and, covering up the body, I made a hole in the floor of the hut
and buried the knife, which I felt I never could use again.

I looked out of the hut and perceived two of the slaves, who performed
that office, coming towards me to take away the body. I desired them to
carry it leaving the clothes on, followed them, and saw it deposited in
the earth; after which I read prayers over the grave, and could not
refrain from shedding many tears to the memory of my faithful associate.
I then returned to the hut, and taking the pan of water in my hand went
to my abode. I could not bear to touch the diamond, but I dared not
leave it where it was; so I poured all the water out of the pan, and
then rolled the diamond out on the floor, which was of hardened clay. I
saw at once that it was one of great value, weighing, I should think,
thirteen or fourteen _grammes_, and of a very pure water. It was in the
form of an obtuse octahedron, and on one side was quite smooth and
transparent. Having made this examination, I picked up some of the clay
with a piece of iron, and, rolling the diamond into the hole, I jammed
the clay down over it. "There," said I, "you may remain till doomsday,
or till some one finds you; you will be of no use to me;" and I thought
of the cock in the fable. My tattered Bible caught my eye, and I said
to it, "You are of more value than all the diamonds in the world;" and I
only uttered what I felt.

For a long time I mourned for Ingram, and thought nothing of the
diamond. Three months more passed away, and I had been eighteen months
in the mines, when some visitors made their appearance--no less than one
of the principals of the Jesuit order, who had been sent by the king of
Portugal out to the Brazils, on a tour of inspection, as it was called,
but in fact to examine into the state of affairs, and the way in which
the government revenue was collected. There had lately been so much
peculation on the part of the various officers, that it was considered
necessary to make minute inquiry. A Portuguese nobleman had been sent
out the year before, but had died shortly after his arrival, and there
was every reason to suppose that he had been poisoned, that the inquiry
might be got rid of. Now this Jesuit priest had been sent out, probably
because a Portuguese, who