1839.] mining. 137 



silver, but the supply is not yet exhausted. Stories border- 

 ing upon the marvellous have long been told in regard to 

 these precious deposits, but though they have not, and will 

 not be realized, they are not wholly fictitious."* 



Silver has always been the principal mineral obtained in 

 Peru. The most productive mines of this metal now wrought, 

 are at Cerro di Pasco. These were accidentally discovered 

 in 1630, by an Indian shepherd, who was tending his flocks 

 on a small pampa southeast of the lake of Llauricocha. Hav- 

 ing wandered one day further from his hut than usual, he 

 found himself, towards evening, in the vicinity of the Cerro 

 de Santiestevan. After building a fire to protect him against 

 the cold, he lay down to sleep. On awaking the following 

 morning, he discovered that the stone underneath his fire had 

 melted and turned to silver. The discovery was immediately 

 made known to his master, who forthwith commenced active 

 preparations for working the mines. Since that time they 

 have been constantly worked by a greater or less number of 

 persons. One class of speculators has been eagerly followed 

 by another class ; but few of them, however, owing to the 

 want of thrift and proper management, have amassed any 

 very considerable wealth. 



All the mine laborers are Indians. They consist of two 

 classes, — one working in the mines the year round, and re- 

 ceiving regular wages from the proprietors of the mines, — 

 and the other making only temporary visits to Cerro di Pasco, 

 when an unusual supply of the metal is procured. In the 

 mines, also, the laborers are divided into two classes ; the 

 barreteros, who break the ore, — and the apires, who bring 

 up the ore from the shaft. From fifty to seventy-five pounds 

 of metal is the usual load of the apire ; this he carries up 

 the shaft in an untanned hide, called a carpdeho. When the 



* At the commencement of the present century, the annual value of the gold 

 and silver produced in Peru, was upwards of six millions of dollars. It is now 

 between three and four millions. But about one thirtieth part of this amount ia 

 gold. Great quantities of gold and silver are smuggled out of the country, — 

 the latter in the shape of pldta piiia, or native silver. 



