due time, was returned to the consul in the
form of a sparkling brilliant; and the Brazilian diamond-trade
immediately commenced. The European dealers in diamonds, and many
retired officers of the English and Dutch East India Companies, who,
as was customary then, had, on their return to Europe, invested a
large part of their wealth in those precious stones, fearing that a
great reduction in price would follow, were alarmed when the Brazilian
diamonds first came into the market. These interested parties
published pamphlets, warning the public against purchasing the
so-called Brazilian diamonds, stating that no diamonds were found in
the Brazils, but that the inferior class of stones was purchased in
India, sent to Brazil, and from thence imported as Brazilian diamonds.
In consequence of these false statements being repeated by persons of
rank and station, a strong prejudice existed against the Brazilian
diamond, although it is now well known to be equal in every respect to
its Indian brother. The Dutch, who then farmed the Brazilian
diamond-mines from the crown of Portugal, met this trick of trade by
another. They dug their diamonds in Brazil, brought them to Holland,
and cut them, then sent them to India, from whence they returned to
Europe as true Oriental jewels. We may add, that the anticipations of
the dealers were not verified in defiance of the great influx from
Brazil, and, later still, the discovery of the diamond in the Ural
Mountains: the price of that stone is at present as high as ever it
was.

ASCENT TO THE BRECHE-DE-ROLAND.

I do not think I shall be accused of exaggeration when I say, that the
ascent to the Breche-de-Roland is to the Pyrenean range what the
passage of the Col de Geant is to the Alps. They are both tough
undertakings, requiring sound legs and lungs, with a happy and
powerful combination of patience, fortitude, and energy.

The difficulty of ascending to the Breche-de-Roland does not consist
so much in its height--though this is 9537 feet--as in the nature of
the ground to be surmounted; and after I had accomplished the feat, I
no longer wondered that several persons had given in, and retraced
their steps without attaining the Breche. Before detailing my ascent
to this wonderful place, it may be proper to state what it is like. On
the flanks of the formidable and gigantic Mont Perdu rises Mont
Marbore, from the summit of which stretches to the west a wall of rock
from 400 to 60