Details

Subject(s)

• Diamonds—Brazil—18th century [Browse]
• Mineral industries—Brazil—18th century [Browse]
• Brazil—History—1763-1822—Sources [Browse]
• Diamantina (Minais Gerais, Brazil)—History—18th century—Sources [Browse]
• Portugal—Colonies—America—18th century [Browse]
• Portugal—History—Maria I, 1777-1816—Sources [Browse]

Getty AAT genre

• Minutes (administrative records—Brazil—18th century [Browse]

Compiled/​Created

1781-1795.

Biographical/​Historical note

In 1729, the Portuguese government learned of the discovery of diamonds in the rivers of Tijuco's environs (Comarca do Serro Frio, actually Diamantina) by some adventurers who had entered in the region searching for gold. Since that time, this gem exploitation has been pursued under varied regimes, and with diverse success, but has never ceased. As soon as it heard of this discovery, the Portuguese government decided to make as much profit as possible of it, so it no longer authorized any other exploitation in the region (Região Demarcada), which is strictly controled. In 1739, the era of contracts was inaugurated. The extraction of diamonds was farmed out for four years to a Contractor (Contratador), who had to work a certain territory with a number of slaves and had to pay to the treasury a certain sum per workman. This arrangement ended in 1772, when the government gave charge of the diamond mining to a special administration, a Royal Extraction of Diamonds (Real Extração dos Diamantes), which was under the direction of the Treasury of Lisbon and directed by a Intendant General of Diamonds (Intedente Geral dos Diamantes), and a Fiscal of Diamonds.

Summary note

"Codex Diamond" or "Book of Registry of Meetings and Resolutions of the Board of Administration of the Royal Extraction of Diamonds in Tejuco" (1781-1795): Manuscript in large folio (44 x 27 cm), 200 ff. numbered and signed by the Intendant João da Rocha Dantas. Laid in modern binding box, lacking the first. The work includes resolutions about buying and renting slaves, new diamonds exploration, judicial inquests about contraband diamonds, and diamond shipments.

Source acquisition

Purchased with support from the Maxwell Fund, 2013. AM 2014-26.

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