C«. X. SOUTH AMERICA. 4SS 



of Zicchos. This also was opened, but discontinued 

 througli the instabihty of the undertaker, and the 

 want of proper assistance. 



I.N the other jurisdiction, as well as in that of La- 

 tacunga, are all the indications of rich mines, though 

 the number of them discovered is much less. The 

 mountain of Pichincha is, by the inhabitants of 

 Quito, thought tocontainimmense treasures: and the 

 grains of gold, found in the sands of the waters which 

 issue from it, greatly countenance the opinion; though 

 there is not the least vestige all over the mountain, 

 that formerly any mine was discovered or worked 

 there. But the latter is no great objection : as the 

 disruptions caused by storms, or process of time, are 

 such as sometimes might entirely choak them up, and 

 cover them so as to leave no traces of their existence ; 

 and a suitable diligence and care have not been used 

 for the discovery of any. Besides this mountain, its 

 whole Cordillera, toge^ther with the eastern chain of 

 Guamani, and many other parts, equall}' abound with 

 the like appearances of rich mines. 



In the districts of Otábalo, and the town of San 

 Miguel de Ibarra, in the territories of the village of 

 Cayambe, along the sides and eminences of the vast 

 mountain Cayamburo, are still remaining some mo- 

 numents in confirmation of the tradition, that, be- 

 fore the Conquest, mines were worked there, which 

 yielded a vast quantity of metal. Among several 

 mountains near the village of Mira, famed for their 

 ancient riches, is one called Pachón, from which an 

 inhabitant of that village is certainly known to have 

 collected, a few years ago, a vast fortune. None 

 of these are worked ; a particular nothing strange 

 to him who sees how the mines lately discovered 

 are neglected, though their quality is sufficiently 

 known. 



Gg4 The 



