Up the Mazaruni for Diamonds

A first-person account follows an expedition up a remote tropical river in search of diamonds, describing outfitting in the nearest city, assembling a mixed river crew, and the hazards of navigating rapids and jungle. The narrator records daily life aboard boats, interactions with indigenous communities, hunting and food preparation, and practical mining techniques used at alluvial diamond sites. Vivid descriptions of jungle travel, native crafts, hospitality, and improvised equipment accompany explanations of washing and separating gravel to find gems. Photographic and sketch illustrations underscore landscape details and field methods, and the narrative concludes with the discovery and extraction practices at the diamond fields and the party’s return from the interior.