276 ANCIENT AVOrvKLNG OF THE MINES. 



of Mexico, as well as those of Peru, were acquainted 

 with several metals. Thej were not contented with the 

 metals which were found in their native state on the sur- 

 face of the earth, and particularly in the beds of rivers, 

 and ravines formed by the torrents : they applied them- 

 selves to subterranean operations in the working of veins ; 

 they cut galleries, and dug pits of communication and ven- 

 tilation ; and they had instruments for cutting the rocks. 

 Cortez informs us in the historical account of his expedi- 

 tion, that gold, silver, copper, lead, and tin, were publicly 

 sold in the great markets of Tenochtitlan. The inhabit- 

 ants of Tzapoteca and Mixtecapan separated the gold by 

 washing the alluvial lands. They usually paid their 

 tributes in two ways, either by collecting in leathern 

 sacks or small baskets of slender rushes, the grains of 

 native gold, or by founding the metal into bars. These 

 bars, like those now used in trade, are represented in the 

 ancient Mexican paintings. In the time of Montezuma, 

 the natives had begun to work the silver mines of Tlachco, 

 in the province of Cohuixco, and those which run across 

 the mountains of Zumpango. In all the great towns of 

 Anahuac gold and silver vases were manufactured. The 

 Spaniards on their first arrival at Tenochtitlan, could 

 never cease admiring the ingenuity of the Mexican gold- 

 smiths. When Montezuma, seduced by his credulity, 

 recognised on the arrival of white and bearded men, the 

 accomplishment of the mysterious prophecy of Quetzal- 

 coatl and compelled the Aztec nobility to yield homage 

 to the king of Spain, the quantity of precious metals 

 offered to Cortez was one hundred and sixtv-two thou- 

 sand pesos de oro. "Besides the great mass of gold and 

 silver," says the famous Conquestidor in his first letter 



