Ch.XIII. south AMERICA. 153 



sand considerable^ quantities of e:old dust, and grains 

 of that metal are found. The silvei* mines are still 

 worked to great advantage ; but with regard to 

 cattle, this province feeds no more than are barely 

 sufficient for its inhabitants. 



XI. The contiguous province to that of Chayanta, 

 on the north-west side of Plata, and seventy leagues 

 distant from that city, is that of Paria, the extent 

 of which is about forty leagues. The air here is 

 cold, so that it produces little grain, which is in some 

 measure compensated by the great plenty of cattle of 

 all kinds ; and the cheeses made here, both from the 

 milit of sheep and cows, are so highly esteemed, that 

 they are sent into every part of Peru : It has also some 

 silver mines. The name of this province is derived 

 from a very large lake, being an arm of that prodi- 

 gious collection of waters called Titi-caca, or Chu- 

 cuito. 



XII. The province of Carangas, begins seventy 

 leagues west from the city of Plata, and extends above 

 fifty leagues. The climate of this jurisdiction is so 

 cold, that the only esculent vegetables here are the 

 papa, quinoa^ and canagua; but it abounds in 

 cattle. Here arc a great number of silver mines 

 constantly worked; among which that named Turco 

 is very remarkable for a sort of ore termed by miners 

 machacado ; the fibres of the silver forming an 

 admirable intertexture with the stone in which they 

 are contained. Mines of this kind are generally the 

 richest. Besides this there are others in this juris- 

 diction, which if not richer are equally remarkable; 

 and these are found in the barren sandy deserts ex- 

 tending towards the coast of the South-sea. And here, 

 only by digging in the sands, are found detached 

 lumps of silver, not mixed with any ore or stone than 

 what adheres in some parts to the metal. These lumjs 

 are called papas, being taken out of the ground, in 

 the same manner as that root. It is doubtless vcrv dif- 

 ficult 



