On the Silver, Gold, and Plutina, of Russia. 123 



cause of this, is the monopoly and easy disposal of it at a high 

 price through the coinage. 



"The price in St. Petersburg for crude platina, is fixed at 

 three rubles, paper, per zolotnicht, or about twenty shillings Eng- 

 lish per ounce. 



" Humboldt has already pointed out the resemblance which 

 exists between the gold formations of Russia, and those of the 

 Brazils. From the extensive and minute researches which he 

 made while exploring these districts, much information has been 

 given to the scientific world. 



" They had not as yet met with any veins containing gold, al- 

 though they were ever on the alert. There is on the property of 

 DemidofF, a position in which a river empties itself into a morass, 

 bounded on one side by a hill of quartz, and then issues again. 

 No gold is found in the bed of that river previous to its entering 

 the morass, but when it flows from out of it, its sands are rich in 

 metal. Some pieces of quartz, containing gold, had been met 

 with, to all appearance the debris of the outcropping of some 

 vein. 



" Difficult would it be to form a true theory of the manner in 

 which gold deposits have been effected ; and many, indeed, have 

 been suggested which have looked well at first, and then vanish- 

 ed into nothing before the stubborn facts which reveal them- 

 selves in a long-continued and minute research into the origin of 

 the gold alluviums of many countries. 



" The gold washings of Tippeanni in La Paz, belonging to the 

 Indian chief Pazas Kanki, now attache of the Buenos Ayres le- 

 gation in London, are of the most singular and interesting that 

 have met my notice. There are facts in the history of these 

 gold deposits, which differ from all others with which I am ac- 

 quainted. 



" On a subject such as the origin of gold or platina deposits, it 

 is indeed difficult to generalize ; and though a theory reconciling 

 the various incongruities, and striking facts of each gold district, 

 has been with me a subject of no slight consideration, yet I must 

 confess, many as have been- my opportunities of ascertaining their 

 exact nature and position, I must leave it to be determined by 

 abler men. 



" It might be imagined, that the circumstance of finding gold 

 in the beds of rivers, would naturally suggest the exploring of 



