WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 637 



1673. The other heads from the Tarapaya are unharmed. This 

 deluge was over, or the greater part of it, by 5 p.m., although it was 

 not possible to get across that night, until what was left in this 

 Caricari reservoir had finally drained off. One should have seen the 

 Indians and Spaniards carrying away the dead and mutilated bodies 

 along the bank, and the Cofradia (Confraternity) de la Misericordia 

 gathering them up with great sympathy and with the great com- 

 miseration of all of us who remain living, although the catastrophe 

 and the number of the dead were so great that we could not attend 

 to them as we should have liked to. They say there is much treasure 

 buried under the banks, which will all be lost or ruined ; we have 

 no recourse but to pray God for succor, for this town's residents and 

 refining superintendents (azogueros) are ruined and prostrated. The 

 loss is reckoned at over 4 millions in ore, quicksilver, and buildings. 



Copy of a letter written about the lamentable catastrophe by this 

 same Factor to the Consignee General (Depositario General), 

 Jeronimo Lopez de Saavedra. 



1674. *T nearly decided not to inform Your Grace of the lament- 

 able catastrophe in this town, but on account of its magnitude and 

 because I did not want the courier to leave without a letter for Your 

 Grace, I will summarize the calamity ( ? al rebiare el caso ; abreviare?) 

 On Sunday the 15th current, the Caricari reservoir burst; they say 

 that at that time people heard and saw some subterranean tremblings 

 and other presentiments. Certain it is that God Vished to chastise 

 us, it may be for the offense given Him by the multiplicity of our 

 manifold sins ; but leaving miracles aside, the reason might be that 

 that side of the reservoir, which was considered safe, had dried out 

 on account of the long drought, and cracked under the great pressure 

 of the water ; considering the location of the break, it might have 

 destroyed the whole town ; but Divine mercy always prevails over 

 Divine justice. 



"It rushed straight down the stream bed and destroyed and carried 

 off all it found in its path. The damage was enormous, so much so 

 that it surpasses 4 millions in buildings, ore, and quicksilver, not to 

 speak of 350 fatalities, and many others who must be buried. Not 

 all the mills suffered, and some only in part. ( ?Ni algunos en todo). 

 Those completely ruined will be 20, and those badly damaged, over 15. 

 Accordingly, with all the respect and affection which I have for 

 Your Grace, I am so overwhelmed that I must close. I affectionately 

 beg His Excellency to be so good as to take pity on this unfortunate 

 town, both at this present moment and with His Majesty, inasmuch 

 as the same reason impels to this succor ; for if it is not given, His 



