216 QUICKSILVER IN PEEU. 



LIB. iv. j we p^ found it to be the same which they call Vermillion 

 in Castille ; and for that hee knew well that vermillion was 

 drawne ont of the same mettall that quickesilver was, he 

 coniectured these mines to be of quickesilver, and went to the 

 place whence they drew this mettall to make triall thereof. 

 The which hee found true, and in this sorte the mines of 

 Palcas in the territorie of Guamanga being discovered, 

 great numbers of men went thither to drawe out quicke 

 silver, and so to carry it to Mexico, where they refine silver 

 by the meancs of quickesilver, wherewith many are inriched. 

 This country of mines which they call Huancavilca was then 

 peopled with Spaniards and Indians that came thither, and 

 come still to worke in these mines of quicke-silver, which 

 are in great numbers and very plentifull ; but of all these 

 mines, that which they call Amador de Cabrera, or Los 

 Santos, is goodly and notable. It is a rocke of most hard 

 stone, interlaced all with quickesilver, and of that great 

 ness that it extends above four score varas or yardes in 

 length, and forty in breadth ; in which mine they have 

 many pittes and ditches, of three score and tenne cstados 

 deepe, so as three hundred men may well worke together, 

 such is the capacity thereof. This mine was discovered by 

 an Indian of Amador de Cabrera, called Nauincopa, of the 

 village of Acoria, the which Amador de Cabrera caused to 

 bo registered in his name. He was in suit against the 

 the Fiscal, but the vsuiruite was adiudged to him by 

 sentence as the discoverer. Since, he solde his interest 

 to another, for two hundred and fifty thousand ducates ; 

 and afterwards thinking he had bin deceived in the sale, 

 he commenced an action against the buyer, being worth, as 

 they say, above five hundred thousand ducats ; yea, some 

 liolde it to be worth a million of golde, a rare thing to see a 

 mine of that wealth. 



Wheiius Don Francisco of Toledo governed in Peru, 

 there was one which had bin in Mexico, and observed how 



