J^66 A VOYAGE TO Book VI. 



only a hole in the gallinazos, as was made in the 

 mirrours ; and much more to give their surfaces such 

 a smoothness and polish, that they are not to be dis- 

 tinguished from the finest glass, must have been pro- 

 digious. These are works which the most ingenious 

 of our artists would be extremely at a loss to pro- 

 duce, if they were allowed only pieces of copper and 

 stones without any other tools or materials. It is the 

 greatest proof of the ingenuity of these people, that 

 by mere dint of genius, and unassisted by information, 

 they should attain to such contrivances and such a 

 delicacy of workmanship. 



Yet all that we have said is surpassed by the in- 

 genuity of the Indians in working emeralds, with 

 which they were supplied from the coast of IManta, 

 and the countries dependent on the government of 

 Atacames, Coaquis or Quaques. But these mines 

 are now entirely lost, very probably through negli- 

 gence. These curious emeralds are found in the 

 tombs of the Indians of Manta and Acatames : and 

 are, in beauty, size, and hardness, superior to those 

 found in thejurisdiction of Santa Fé; but what chiefly 

 raises the admiration of theconnoisseur is, to find them 

 %vorked, some in spherical, some cylindrical, some co- 

 nical, and of various other figures ; and all with 

 a perfect accuracy. But the unsurmountable diffi- 

 culty here is, to explain how they could work a stone 

 of such hardness; it being evident, that steel and 

 iron were utterly unknow^n to them. They pierced 

 emeralds, and other gems, with all the delicacy of 

 the present times, furnished with so many tools : and 

 the direction of the hole is also very observable ; 

 in some it passes through the diameter ; in others, 

 only to the centre of the stone, and coming out at its 

 circumference they formed triangles at a small dis- 

 tance from one another : and thus the figure of the 

 stone to give it relief was varied wit-h the direction 

 of the holes. 



After 



