1829.] The Two Miners of Famatina. 347 
heard so much ; and seeing in its now visible form literally “a mine of 
wealth,” they determined within themselves to explore and take posses- 
sion of its treasures, or perish in the attempt. On their arrival at Chile- 
cito, they were literally destitute of everything necessary to their enter- 
prise, except that unquenchable desire and determination to accomplish 
it which constitutes in such cases great part of the required power. They 
had not even brought with them any of the mining tools necessary for 
the commencement of their operations ; nor a farthing of money to pur- 
chase them. These, therefore, together with the supply of provisions 
indispensable to their very existence, while working on a spot, near 
which none could, by possibility, be procured, they contrived to obtain 
on credit, from a curate of Chilecito, named Granillo, who agreed to 
supply them with what they needed, to the amount of thirty dollars, on 
condition, that if they succeeded in their undertaking, they were to 
repay him double the amount within a certain time ; and, with these 
supplies they started for the mountain, the very day after their arrival 
in its neighbourhood. They proceeded on foot themselves, as it was 
necessary to load their mule with the provisions, tools, &c., which they 
were enabled by the curate to take with them. It is said that the hard- 
ships they endured, for the first three or four days, were almost incredi- 
ble ; for, during the whole of that time, they were exposed to the fury 
of a snow storm, almost naked, and without firing, or even shelter. At 
the end of that time they had contrived to dig out a small cave in the 
side of the rock to shelter them at night from the snow and rain; and 
there they used to lie close together, with no other means of avoiding 
being frozen to death, but that of receiving the animal warmth of each 
other. Their only provisions were biscuit, and a little dried beef, or 
charqui, which they were obliged to eat cold—having, as I have said, no 
means of procuring firing of any kind. Nevertheless, they persevered 
—their first attempt being made at that part of the mountain, called the 
Cerro Negro, where, after working for some time, they discovered a 
small vein of virgin silver, mixed with sulphuret of silver. They con- 
tinued working upon this for about a month, never quitting the moun- 
tain during that period; at the end of which time, having collected 
together as much ore as they could carry, they returned with it to Chi- 
lecito. As all mining speculations had ceased in that neighbourhood, 
they were now at a loss how to turn their little treasure to account, by 
reducing it to atangible form. This, however, they at last effected, by 
grinding the ore to powder, on a large flat stone, as painters grind their 
colors, and then triturating it with mercury to extract the silver. The 
produce of this their first adventure was about one hundred dollars ; 
with which, having first paid the curate his promised sixty dollars, they 
purchased more provisions, and a little clothing, and then returned to 
the mountain, and were heard of no more for three months. At the end 
of that time one of them came back to the village, with sufficient silver 
ore to purchase two additional mules, for the purpose of bringing back 
e increasing produce of their labours. And thus they went on for 
about twelve months, never quitting the mountain but when compelled 
to return in search of provisions. It was understood that, by this time, 
they had accumulated a capital of about two thousand dollars; and 
about this time it was that they discovered the rich mine called Santo 
Domingo. They now found themselves sufficiently beforehand with the 
world to feel justified in hiring labourers from the village to work for 
2 Y 2 
