Chapter 847 Lion Mountain

"Rock tube?" Aken doesn't quite understand this geological terminology.

Yoda explained: "We Goblin dig diamonds vertically. That kind of vein is vertically deep into the ground.

"Do you mean that these indigenous people accidentally encountered a diamond vein when mining these cheap gems?" Aken got a little excited.

The book demon nodded, "It is very likely that most of the diamonds produced in modern West Africa in Sierra Leone are mainly scattered sand mines. These indigenous people do not know that the really best diamond is produced in Kimberlite barrels. Only the best modern geologists can find the original vein of diamond - the Kimberley rock cylinder through the heavy sand mine tracking method!"

Aken was overjoyed, "Let these indigenous people take us to that place and let Yoda find a few more such ores..."

Yoda is also eager to try. The big diamond he encountered today made it clear that there must be a diamond rich mine there! And it's a surface mine, which is easy to mine!

The book demon smiled and shook his head. These two greedy guys really made him speechless. He communicated with the indigenous people and said that the Baron wanted to purchase a large number of high-grade gems and must go to the place of origin to choose...

The indigenous people who transported gold refused at first and wanted to earn a large middle price, but under the high road fee** of Aken and the threat that they could not earn a word if they did not lead the way, they quickly surrendered and promised to take them to the origin of the mine. It happened that they had to go back to carry a batch of gold. Come here.

Zhang Fan also wants to go to the African continent of this era to experience the local customs. I heard that the western Africa of this era was the heyday of the Songhai Empire - the Asgia dynasty! Timbuktu, the capital, is a very prosperous city. It is the most important city for academic exchanges and commodity exchanges and trade in the empire, and the textile industry is developed. This is a black Muslim country, and the king is called the caliph, which means that Allah is the agent in the world and holds the supreme right to interpret religion.

However, Timbuktu is far away from Sierra Leone, which is only on the edge of the Songhai Empire, a very barren and poor place. Strangely, this poor land is an area that produces gold and diamonds. These expensive luxury specialties do not bring wealth to the local indigenous people, but increase their labor.

If it weren't for the transportation of gold, the return journey would still be easy. After handing over the first batch of goods quickly, the indigenous people immediately set off and drove the elephant back to the mine. Zhang Fan's team members were also too bored by boat, and it was also the first time to ride an elephant, which was very novel, so they took this trip as a vacation, and all of them participated.

It must be said that this is another benefit brought by a strong fortune. Because this diamond trip is not so casual on the surface. If only Acon and Goblin go there, I'm afraid it's bad luck...

The journey back to the mining area took less than two days, which was a very bad place. The hillside was cut down, and the trees were bare like dysentery. The red and yellow mines are like ugly scars. The river flowing through the mining area is full of dirty mud, and many black gold diggers are washing ore sand in the river. Their women and children also wash clothes and food in the same river, and even bathe and pee in the river.

Along with these black gold dealers, Drake, and two trusted first mates and translators of the Hawkins fleet, have long been used to such scenes. Those cheap and bleak gemstone mines will not interest these English adventurers. If it is not diamonds, the value of ordinary gemstones is not high. Only Huang Cancan's gold can make their blood boil. Therefore, they immediately contacted the mine owner to discuss the delivery time of the next batch of gold.

Aken took out the ore that had taken away the diamond and asked the mine owner about the source. Unexpectedly, the big-bellied indigenous leader did not know the source of the ore. In fact, he is indifferent except for gold. So he found a vicious supervisor who was responsible for discipating the gold-moving slaves and asked him to take Arcan to the mine to find experienced miners.

A very old-looking black miner took a small piece of ore fragment, smelled it under his nose, licked it with a stone, and then closed his eyes for a while, as if the dry ore was a unique cheese with a different taste on his unique tongue.

"This is the stone on the other side of Mano Village. I can smell the urine sprinkled by the prairie babans on it..." The old miner slowly raised his turbid eyes and said to Aken.

"Nonsense, we haven't had contact with Mano Village for a long time. Why is there any ore over there?" The big black supervisor spit and questioned the old miner's judgment.

"Maybe it's one of last year's gem mines. Don't we still have some in the warehouse? Sometimes we will pick up a few useless ore ballasts. The old miner showed a flattering smile.

Acon immediately said, "Take me to that warehouse. If there is indeed something we want, the Baron will pay a big price!"

When the supervisor heard the big price, he immediately kicked the old miner, "Why don't you show Master Aken the way quickly!"

The warehouse is a smelly large thatched hut, which is full of ore. Some ores have ** golden redstone on the surface, but they are all of very low grade, and even these poor miners look down on them.

As soon as Yoda saw this pile of ore, he immediately rushed up and looked at his small body. He was able to flip such a large piece of ore, which surprised the big supervisor. Goblin jumped on the ore pile, and Aken also came forward to help open the ore underneath and let Goblin identify it. As a result, only a few diamonds containing lower grades were selected. It's disappointing for Goblins.

"We have to go to Mano Village. The ore here is very barren." Yoda said to Acon, "But the smell of diamonds contained in these ores is very strong. I think there must be a large diamond vein there!"

Aken immediately said to the supervisor, "We are going to Mano Village. Find me a guide who knows the way."

The old miner immediately said, "I have mined in Mano Village..." He looked back at the supervisor and didn't dare to go on.

"That's you!" Aken waved his hand impatiently and grabbed a handful of exchanged local currency from his pocket and gave it to the supervisor. "I bought this slave and these useless ores..."

"It's not easy for me to explain this to the chief..." The big supervisor said.

Aken took out a copper coin from his pocket and waved. Xuanyuan Xing came forward and threw a few bottles of rum to the supervisor. The big black man immediately lit up and took the rum head and left without looking back.

"Let's go now!" Aken waved his hand.

"Wait a minute..." The old miner said hesitantly.

"What are you waiting for?" Aken is puzzled.

"Is that how we walked? It's better to have an elephant to walk..." The old miner was so cunning that he was too lazy to walk.

Aken smiled, "We have better than elephants."

"Wait a minute..." There are quite a lot of tricks for old miners.

"What else do you have? Do you want me to leave you in this mining area to get moldy?!" Aken threatened.

The old miner quickly waved his hand, "No, no, my lord, you misunderstood, please don't leave me!" God bless me, I don't want to stink in this hateful mine anymore!" He pointed to the big supervisor who was far away, "I just want... Can you give me a bottle of delicious water that you just gave him..."

............

The old miner who was greedy for wine was still competent. Before he got drunk, everyone arrived in Mano Village. This is an African indigenous village that makes a living by hunting and mining. Several indigenous villagers even know this old alcoholic miner. Under the nourishment of a bucket of cold water, the old miner woke up from a beautiful drunken dream. Under the threat of Akan, the old man did not dare to neglect. He immediately found a miner friend who used to miner together in this village and showed them the ore.

A lame old miner licked the ore and said helplessly to Akan, "This is indeed the ore mined in our area, but that place has been closed, and no one here dares to go there..."

"Closed?" Aken frowned, "What's the reason for the closure?"

The lame old miner stretched out his leg and saw a terrible wound that seemed to be devoured by a beast, which was bitten alive!

"That place is called 'Sierra Leone' (meaning 'Lion Mountain'). There used to be a group of lions there. Later, after the group of lions were driven away by us, everyone was able to mine there. And now there comes a group of more fierce lions. Our village has organized the best soldiers and fought several battles, all of which have been defeated. My leg was bitten off by the lion there!"

"Lion..." Aken breathed a sigh of relief. He thought the mine was blocked by the powerful local tribe. If it is a few lions, they should not be able to stop their hand reaching for the diamond.

"How many lions?" Aken asked.

"Seven or eight, but they are all very fierce! Two males, the others are female..." The old miner replied in shock.

"Then it's up to us!" Aken said, "Who is the leader here? Take us to see him and say that we can help you drive away the lion herd!"

The lame old miner was shocked, "Dear strangers, don't be so arrogant! The leader of that group of lions was once the king of the group of lions that we drove away! Now it has returned to its territory and become more powerful! Maybe you have a strong fighting ability, but that Lion King is definitely not easy to mess with!"