Htilorie of the Indies. lib.^X 217 



(cmbling the light, and the found more pcrcing,more 

 lively ,and more delicate. Likewife there are fome pla 

 ces where they value filver more thengoldc. It is yet 

 an argument, to iudge that gold is more factious rhen 

 all other mettalls , for that it is found widvgreater dif- 

 ficultie and Nature feemcs more (paring in bringing 

 itfoorth (although there be countries as they fay of 

 Chine) wjyre they finde goldemore eafily then filvcr: 

 yet it is more common and ordinarie , to. finde filver 

 with more facilitie and greater abundance then gold. 

 The Creator hath furniflied the Weaft7#<//mvith fb 

 great a treafure of filver,as all that which we reade of fit 

 antient Hiftories, and that which is fpoken of the 

 mines ofspaiae, and other provinces , is not compara 

 ble to that we fee in thofcpaites. Th cjsings of filycr 

 arccomtnonty found in mountaines, and high rockes 

 very defart , although theyliave fbmetimes bin found 

 in Plaines and Champaines. There are two different 

 kindes, the one they call ftragling, the other fixed and 

 fetlcd. The draggling, are pceccs of mettall found in 

 certaine places > the which drawneaway , there is na 

 more found. But the fixed veines , are thofe which 

 have a continuance in depth andjength^likc to great 

 branches and armcs of trees- ancfwhen they find anie 

 one of them , they commonly finde many in the fame 

 place.The maner to purge & refine fily^rwl^chjthe 7^. 

 diavstiwe Wed,was by melting,in diSofving thismaffe 

 of mettall by fire, which cafts the earthly drofle aparte, 

 and by his force Separates filver from lead 3 tinne from 

 copper, and other mettalls mixt . To this end they did 

 build fmall furnaces in places whereas thewindedid 

 commonly blow,and with wood and cole made their 

 refining, the which furnaceslnPfr'** they call G^^ 

 " " " Since 



