
Gilberto is
an old-time diamond miner (garimpeiro),
as was his father and grandfather, going back in time (almost certainly) to the
slaves who were brought in to work the mines (Brazil only fully abolished
slavery in 1888).
I've known Gilberto
for years, and he can usually be found at a friend’s house at the foot of the
hills. He spent most of his life living in a crude rock shelter in the
mountains near his diamond claim, and feels much more at home away from the
"big city"...