from the Desert of Atacama in Peru. 225 



is found in the province of Atacama in Peru, at a distance of 

 about twenty leagues from the port of Cobija, in large masses 

 imbedded in a mountain, in the neighbourhood of the village of 

 San Pedro, and scattered over the plains at the foot of the moun- 

 tain in question for a distance of three or four leagues, in frag- 

 ments similar to that sent herewith, but some of them of consi- 

 derable magnitude." 



From this statement it appears that the accounts are yet im- 

 perfect, and that we have only the authority of an Indian to de- 

 pend upon. It was by the same species of authority, obtained from 

 a Cosaque named MEDVEDEF, who was found to be accurately cor- 

 rect, that PALLAS was led to his mass. The apology of the Indian 

 for not bringing a portion of the vein attached to the rock, as he 

 was desired to do, is a very plausible one ; but the structure of 

 this iron is so entirely dissimilar from the product of any vein of 

 iron that we are acquainted with, that it is highly probable the 

 scattered fragments will be found to differ entirely from any ore 

 which the veins of that country may produce. It was the theory 

 of the Indian, that these fragments, which, according to Mr PA- 

 RISH'S subsequent statement, appear to be scattered over a dis- 

 trict extending to three or four leagues, were produced by explo- 

 sions from the veins. He had consequently a theory to support ; 

 and we know here something of the difficulty with which geolo- 

 gical opinions are abandoned. Our Indian, therefore, who is ad- 

 mitted to be a man of observation, would probably decline to pro- 

 duce specimens calculated to overset his former assertions, as it is 

 very improbable that he would be sent for the purpose of ob- 

 taining specimens without the tools necessary to secure the suc- 

 cess of his mission. 



The Desert of Atacama, as it is termed in the maps, is si- 

 tuated on the shore of the Pacific, between Chili and Peru. The 

 town of Atacama lies in Lat. 23 30' S., and Long. 69 30' W. 



VOL. XI. PART I. F f 



