Reviews* 157 



ing to tliem, astlieir valuable massive ornaments excited the cupi- 

 dity of their invaders ; but the effects of the early use of this metal 

 were of considerable value to the nation long before the disas- 

 trous invasion by the Spaniards. 



Copper, also, came under notice ; as, like gold, this metal is 

 found in a native or metalic state ; but, owing to the comparative 

 scarcity of copper in some localities where gold was plentiful, the 

 former was held in higher estimation than the latter, in conse- 

 quence of certain improvements obtained by an alloy of copper 

 and gold. 



These two metals were the only ones we hare any knowledge 

 of having been discovered in that part of the continent comprising 

 the elevated districts and table lands of the Andes, from the At- 

 lantic Ocean to the borders of the empire of Peru, which, at the 

 time we speak of, was in a flourishing state. To obtain the ne- 

 cessary heat for fusing gold, a furnace and a blast were found to 

 be requisite ; accordingly we find the very simple plan was adopt- 

 ed of making an excavation in the ground, and coating it with 

 clay. In the centre some stones were placed as a fire-place ; 

 charcoal was then ignited, and the smelting pot, with the gold, 

 placed. The heat of the burning charcoal was then increased to 

 the required degree by a certain number of men supplying air by 

 alternatety blowing through long canes, protected at the ends 

 with clay, so as to produce a constant blast in imitation of a 

 double bellows. 



The original inventors made the patterns and the moulds for 

 their castings in the following primitive but effective manner* 

 The beeswax having been used to make toys, in the form of rep, 

 tiles and other animals, for the amusement of children, these in- 

 significant playthings were afterwards used to reproduce, in gold 

 what they had imitated in wax. The fancy article of wax was, 

 therefore used as a pattern ; it was imbedded in ciay, a small 

 orifice in the mould being left, made also with wax, through which 

 the melted metal could be introduced. These moulds were then 

 carefully dried in the sun, and afterwards gradually heated so as 

 to melt the wax, and leave the clay -casing or mould ready to re- 

 ceive the fluid metal. This simple and ingenious contrivance of 

 the original inhabitants of South America was also used to procure 

 more elaborate imitations of the flora and fauna of Mexico and 

 Peru. 



The Spanish conquerors reached the interior of South America 



