1829. ] The Two Miners of Famatina. 351 
many of the mines then in work produced an average of four times that 
proportion. Moreover, so defective was the system of working the mines, 
it was perfectly well understood that the workmen stole at least half 
the produce. Yet, notwithstanding all these drawbacks, the profits of 
working the mines were understood to be immense, as compared with 
the capital employed for the purpose. The wages paid to the workmen, 
at the period now referred to, were as follows:—To the working miner 
(barretero) twelve dollars per month, and as much beef, bread, and fire- 
_ wood as he chose to consume ; to the apire, or labourer, who carried up 
the ore on his back from the lodes, eight dollars per month, and the same 
provisions ; the overseer (majordomo) was generally paid from twenty- 
five to thirty dollars per month, and he generally contrived to appro- 
priate as much more. The mountain was, as it were, parcelled out into 
nine different divisions ; of which the richest and most productive was 
said to be that portion called the Cerro Mejicano, and situated just beneath 
the snowy ridge. The other portions, bearing the best repute for riches, 
were the Ampallao, the Cerro Negro, and the Cerro Tigre. In the Cerro 
Mejicano alone there are eight rich mines. The particular mine which 
is reputed to be the richest is called the mine of Santo Domingo. It 
produces abundance of virgin silver, and was, at that time, estimated at 
the value of 200,000 dollars. The metal of nearly all the mines is silver; 
but there were three or four which produced gold. These, however, 
though much more healthy to work than the silver mines, were not 
looked upon as nearly so profitable. 
Finally, it may be mentioned, that the mountain of Famatina presents, 
from the village of Chilecito, a most beautiful and noble appearance, 
especially in the early morning, when its enormous snow-crowned ridges 
are just receiving the first rays of the sun. At this period of the day, 
indeed, it is usually enveloped, for the most part, in light mists. Butas 
these clear away before the increasing power of the sun as it rises, the 
various effects of light and shade are most curious and beautiful ; and 
when, at last, the whole is enveloped in the full blaze of day, the effect 
is truly magnificent. A. G. 
THE CHRISTIAN MARTYR: A FRAGMENT. 
By the Author of “ Field Flowers,”’ &c. 
So stood the Christian Martyr ;—he that morn 
Had heard his dreadful doom, had heard, unchanged 
His mind and purpose ; and, with step as firm 
And brow as placid, to the stake moved on, 
As when in other days he claimed the bride 
Of his young heart’s affections. Now he came 
To wed another bride, but not of Earth, 
For he was Earth’s no longer; his the bride 
Of Heaven, immortal, pure, unchangeable. 
Oh, what an hour was that! With eye upturned 
To the blue ether, and with soul outpoured 
In prane to his Creator, there he stood, 
A thing of fearful wonderment, and fraught 
With such high aspirations, that e’en they, 
Who had but come to scoff, in silent prayer 
