Htilorie of the Indies, lib. 4., 24.* 



the remainder contoines but the fixtpartin filvciyand 

 five in' mercuric. So as if tFere remaipes a markc of 

 threeicorc pounds, ten are of filver,and fiftie of mercu* 

 rie. Ofchefe markes they make pinnes, (as they call 

 them,)like pine apples,or fugar Ioaves 5 hollow within, 

 the which they commonly make of a hundred pound 

 weight ; then to federate the filver from the quickest- 

 ver, they put it into a violent hre, which they"coVei f 

 with an earthen vcflell,like to the mold of a fugar loafe, 

 orvntoa capuchonorhoode, the which they cover 

 with coales, and fet firevntoit; whereby the quicke- 

 filver exhales infmoake , the which ftrikingagainft the 

 capuchonpf earth,it thicRns an3fdiftil!s jik 'vnto tKc 

 firioalce of a potte covere J; and by apipelikevnto a 

 limbecke, they receive the quicke-fdver which diffills, 

 the filver remaining without changing the forme v bu t 

 invveight it is dimimjEeH'fivc partes or that it was, and 

 tlie which is worthy tlie obiefvation. 



Of two of thefe loaves they make one barreof^lver, , 

 in weight 65 . or 6 6. markes ; and jtuhis fort they carry 

 J5Q tl^ ipucHTciiftome, andmarke. SilveiTdrawnc 

 with merojrie, islolne , that it never abates of two - 

 thoufand three hundred and fourefcore of alloy, and it f * 

 is fo excellent , that the worke-men areinforced to a- 

 lay inputting (bme mixture tolt, as they do likewife in 

 their mints, whereas their mony is ftampt. Silver in- 

 dures alljhefe martiredomes ? (if we may fb call it.)' to 

 berefined , the \vhich if we confider weflTit is a bodie 

 framed where they grinde,fift> kn'eadejay the levcn, & 

 bake the filver : befidesalhhis, they wafli it and fraflh it 

 againe b they bake it and bake it againe , induringthe 

 peftells,fives,troughes,furnaces, caldrons, prcfles: and 

 finally, by the water and fire. I ipcake this, for that fee- 



R 4 ing 



