464 A VOYAGE TO Book VL 



actly reflect objects. The mirrors made of this stone 

 •were of different kinds, some plain, some concave, 

 and others convex. I have seen them of all kinds : 

 and from the delicacy of the workmanship one M'ould 

 have thought these people had been furnished with 

 all kinds of instruments, and completely skilled in 

 opticks. Some quarries of this stone are likewise met 

 with; but they are entirely neglected, though its 

 transparency, colour, and hardness, besides its having 

 no flaws or veins, render it very beautiful. 



The copper axes of the Indians differ very little 

 in their shape from ours : and it appears that these 

 were the instruments with which they performed 

 most of their works : for if not the only, they are 

 the most common edge-tools found arnong them ; 

 and the whole apparent difference betwixt those they 

 use, consists only in size and shape : for though they 

 all resemble an axe^ the edge in some is more circular 

 than in others. Some have a concave ed^e, others 

 a point on the opposite side, and a fluted handle 

 These instruments were not all of copper, some ha- 

 ving been found of gallinazo, and of another stone 

 something resembling the flint, but less hard and pure. 

 Of this stone, and that of the gallinazo, are several 

 points, supposed to have been heads of spears, as these 

 were their two chief instruments or weapons : for, had 

 they used any other, some would doubtless have been 

 found among the infinite number of guacas which 

 have been opened. 



The guaqueros, or drinking-vessels, are of a very 

 fine black earth : but the place where they were made 

 is utterly unknown. They are round, and with a 

 handle in the middle, the mouth on one side, and on 

 the other the head of an Indian, whose features are so 

 naturally expressed, that very few of our workmen 

 could equal it. Others, though of th*e same forii^ 

 are of a red earth. Besides which there are found 



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