MARTIN RATTLER. 255

Having sat till daybreak, the two friends went to
bed to dream of each other and of home.

Next morning Barney took Martin to visit the
diamond mines. On the way they passed a band of
Negro slaves who encircled a large fire, the weather
being very cold. It was at that time about the end of
July, which is one of the coldest months in the year.
Tn this part of Brazil summer and winter are reversed
—the coldest months being May, June, and July; the
hottest, November, December, January, and February.

Minas Geraes, the diamond district, is one of the
richest provinces of Brazil. The inhabitants are
almost entirely occupied in mining or in supplying
the miners with the necessaries of life. Diggers and
shopkeepers are the two principal classes, and of
these the latter are best off; for their trade is steady
and. lucrative, while the success of the miners is very
uncertain. Frequently a large sum of money and
much time are expended in mining without any
adequate result; but the merchants always find a
ready sale for their merchandise, and, as they take
diamonds and gold-dust in exchange, they generally
realize large profits, and soon become rich. The poor
miner is like the gambler. He digs on in hope,
sometimes finding barely enough to supply his wants,

at other times making a fortune suddenly, but never