Cn. XIII. SOUTH AMERICA. 149 



ÍG:norance oftlie workiiien, a still greater quantity; 

 but the immense consumption of quicksilver in the 

 mines of this mountain, and the riches extracted 

 from it, M'ill best appear from the following- ac- 

 counts of two authors, who were perfectly masters 

 of the subject. The first is that of the Rev. Alon- 

 zo Barba, parish priest in the imperial town of 

 Potosi, who, in a piece on metals published in the 

 year 1637, says, that from the year 1574, when 

 mercury was first used here in extractinii; the silver, 

 the royal office of Potosi has received above 

 204,700 quintals of mercury, exclusive of what had 

 been clandestinely bought by private persons, and 

 which amounted to no small quantity. And as this 

 w^as consumed in the space of sixty-three years, the an- 

 nual amount is about 3,249 quintals. The second 

 account is given us by don Gasper de Escalona, who 

 in his Gozophilacio Perubico, declares, from very 

 good authority, that before the year 1638, it appear- 

 ed by the public accounts, that the produce of the 

 silver amounted to 395,619,000 dollars, which in 

 ninety-three years, the time it had then been disco- 

 vered, amounted to 4 1 ,255,043 dollars per annum. 

 Hence an idea may be formed of the vast commerce 

 which has for many years been carried on in this town, 

 and which is still like to continue for a long time ; 

 such enormous sums being annually bartered for 

 goods sent hither, its whole trade consisting in silver 

 extracted from this mountain; and if some diminution 

 has been perceived in its produce, it is still very con- 

 siderable. 



At a small distance from Potosi are the hot medi- 

 cinal baths called Don Diego, whither, as in other 

 countries, some resort for health, and others for 

 diversion. 



The jurisdiction of Tomina, begins about eighteen 

 leagues south-east fiom the city of Plata, borders east- 

 ward on a nation of wild Indians called Chiriguanos. 



The 



