454 A VOYAGE TO Book VI. 



near the village of Angamaica ; the owner of which 

 was an inhabitant of the village called Sanabria, 

 3?he quantity of metal he procured from it was so 

 great, that in order to lose no time, he caused it to 

 be worked day and night, and had for that purpose 

 a great number of Negro slaves, who laboured in the 

 night ; and the Indians continued the work in the 

 day time. But in the height of his prosperity, the 

 niine in a violent storm gave way, and sunk so low, 

 that, though frequent searches have been made after 

 it, the vein could not be found. At last, in the year 

 1743, a person discovered it b}^ an accident of the 

 same nature that had destroyed it ; a violent tempest 

 happened, during which, a torrent of water gushed 

 out through the former entrance of the mine. The 

 person, interpreting this accident as a providential 

 indication, immediately undertook the working of 

 it ; and it has fully answered his expectations. 



Within the jurisdiction of this province are many 

 other mines, which appear to have been M'orked at 

 different times, and to have yielded a great quantity 

 of metal. The nature of the country seems best 

 adapted to gold mines ; though there are several silver 

 veins, which appear to be very rich : and accordingly 

 an account of them is entered in the several revenue 

 ofiices, and in the records of the audience of Quito. 

 Some have been lately worked, though with little en- 

 couragement: of this number may be said to be that 

 of Guacaya, in the jurisdiction of Zicchos, o^ the 

 frontiers of Latacunga ; and another likewise of silver, 

 about two leagues from the former. Both were 

 worked some time ; but never beyond the surface of 

 the earth, the undertakers not having a sufficient 

 stock of their own to work them in form ; and the 

 assistance they solicited was denied. The most cele- 

 brated silver mine in all this district, is that called 

 Sarapullo, about eighteen leagues from the same town 



of 



