Cíi. X. SOUTH AMERICA. 447 



neither species are handsome, but very gentle and do- 

 cile; fall of spirit and intrepidity. 



CHAP. X. 



A short Account of the many Silver and Gold Mines 

 in the Province of Quito ; and the Method of ex- 

 tracting the Metal. 



THE chief riches of the kingdom of Peru, and 

 the greatest part of the Spanish possessions on 

 the continent, being the mines, which spread their 

 ramifications through the whole extent of these coun- 

 tries ; that province is justly accounted the most va- 

 luable where the mines are most numerous, or at 

 least where the greatest quantity of metal is pro- 

 cured. The fertility of the soil, the exuberant har- 

 vests with which the labourer's toil is rewarded, would 

 lose much of their advantage, had not the precious 

 contents in the bowels of the earth exercised the 

 ingenuity of the miner. The fertile pastures which 

 so richly cover the country, are disregarded, if the 

 stones upon trial are not found to answer the avi- 

 dity of the artists: and the plentiful productions of 

 the earth, which are in reality the most excellent 

 gifts of nature, for the support and comfort of hu- 

 man life, are undervalued and slighted, unless the 

 mountains contain rich veins of a hue silver. Thus, 

 contrary to the nature of things, the name of rich 

 is bestowed on that province where most mines are 

 worked, though so entirely destitute of the other more 

 necessary products, that the great number of people, 

 employed in the mines, are under a necessity of being 

 supplied from other parts : and those provinces, whose 

 pastures are covered with flocks, and herds, whose 

 iields yield plentiful harvests, and their trees bend 

 beneath rich fruits, under the fertilizing influence of 



a be- 



