This comarca, which is nearly as large as England, does not, exclusive of the district of Paracatu, contain more than one hundred and thirteen thousand, three hundred and sixty-four souls. Senhor Gama, who was recently its ouvidor or governor, collected materials, during his triennial government, for a map of the comarca, which he presented to the minister of state at Rio de Janeiro, in expectation that his labours would at least have received some approbation; but the subject was treated with indifference. Senhor Gama subsequently made me a present of the map, an exact copy of which is here introduced. The signal of a standard upon the map points out those places rich in diamonds, which, by a strange policy, are rigidly preserved untouched as a resource for the government; and whenever they are worked, if the proceedings are conducted upon the same principle as the diamond grounds of Tijuco, will certainly not be a source of much revenue to the state. [Illustration: _Mapa da Comarca do_ SABARA.] Senhor Gama related a circumstance which occurred during his ouvidorship here, that affords a tolerably strong evidence of the deep subtilty practised by some, at least, of the Brazilian holy fathers, for their personal benefit. A female, residing at no great distance from Sabara, whose mind was darkened by bigotry, and who was particularly rigid in all religious observances, no saint day passing without her exhibiting the utmost devotion, mortified herself in a peculiar degree on all occasions of fasting, and during Lent always refrained from eating, with such resolution, that she acquired the honour of being considered a saint. So strongly was her mind influenced by this delusion, that she communicated her self-working inspirations to two or three padres, who lived near. They immediately inflamed her wild imagination by their countenance, and gave public weight to the notion, by affirming that her soul would ascend to heaven on a certain day. Contributions were already talked of for forming an establishment to be dedicated to Santa Harmonica, the name of the female. The priests were, of course, to have the administration of the funds. Good Friday was the appointed day for the consummation of this important event. The machinery hitherto worked well, and her exhausted appearance, from continued fasting, warranted the conclusion that her dissolution was near. It was a subject of general interest, and being introduced where the ouvidor was present on the evening preceding the intended conclusion of the drama, he stated that he had not faith in any thing so ridiculous; and in the event of the female’s death, he would summon a species of inquest to be held upon the body. A friend or coadjutor of the priests was present: he left the party and hastened on horseback to communicate this determination of the ouvidor to the holy brothers. An effect very contrary to the expectation of her devoted worshippers was thus produced.