MINES OF POTOSI. 201 



who (for the felicitie of Spaine) would have the greatest LlB - IY - 

 treasure that ever was in this world discovered at such 

 time whenas the Bmperour Charles the fift of famous 

 memorie held the Empire, the kingdonies of Spaine,, and 

 the Seigniorie of the Indies. Presently after that the dis- 

 coverie of Potosi was knowne in Peru, many Spaniardes, 

 and the most parte of the citizens of the city of La Plata, 

 which is eighteene leagues from Potosi, came thither to take 

 mines : yea there came many Indians from divers provinces, 

 especially the Haayradores of Porco, so as within a short 

 space it was the best peopled habitation of all the kingdome. 



CHAP. vn. Of tit e treasure which is daily drawne from tJie 

 rocJie or monntaine of Potosi. 



I have often doubted if in antient Histories there were 

 found any so rich mines as those we have seen in our time 

 in Peru. If there were ever rich mines in the worlde, and 

 famous for this effect, they have bin those of Spaine, which 

 they of Carthage did inioy, and since, the Romans, the 

 which, as I have saide, are not onely famous and esteemed 

 in prophane bookes, but also in the holy Scriptures. Hee 

 that maketh most particular mention of these mines, at the 

 least that I have seene, is Plinie, who writeth thus in his 

 naturall Historic : &quot; They finde silver in almost all provinces, 

 but that of Spaine is the best, which growes and ingenders 

 in a barren soile, vppon mountaines and rockes. It is a 

 certaine and infallible thing, that in places where they have 

 once discovered any of these veines, there are others not 

 farre off, which is likewise found in all other mettalls, and 

 for this the Greekes, in my opinion, called them mettalls. 

 It is strange that the pits or holes of these mines of Spaine, 

 the which they began to digge in Hannibals time, are at 

 this day, and hold the names of their discoverers. Amongst 



