21 



of great antiquity in Chili, as on opening a large 

 heap of stones in the mountains of Arauco, an urn 

 of extraordinary size was discovered at the bottom. 

 For their vessels they not only made use of earth, but 

 of hard wood, and even of marble, and vases of the 

 latter have been sometimes discovered that were po- 

 iished with the greatest perfection. 



From the earth they extracted gold, silver, cop- 

 per, tin and lead, and, after purifying, employed 

 these metals in a variety of useful and curious 

 works, particularly the bell metal copper, which is 

 very hard ; of this they made axes, hatchets, and 

 other edged tools, but in small quantities, as they 

 are rarely to be met with in their sepulchres ; 

 where, on the contrary, hatchets made of a species 

 of basalt are very frequently found. It is remarka- 

 ble, that iron, universally supposed to have been 

 unknown to the American nations, has a particular 

 name in the Chilian language. It is cciWeà pmii/gue, 

 and the weapons made of it chiuçuel, in distinction 

 from those made of other materials, which are com- 

 prehended under the general name of nulin. The 

 smith was called ruthavé^ from the verb ruthan^ 

 which signifies to work in iron. These circum- 

 stances giv^e rise to a suspicion that they not only 

 were acquainted with this valuable metal, but that 

 they also made use of it. But, considering the si- 

 lence of the first writers upon America on this sub- 

 ject, notwithstanding the inferences that may be 

 drawn from hence, this point must always remain 

 undecided, unless pieces of iron should be found of 

 incontcstible antiquity. 



