CHAP. xxi. AMERICAN MINES. 119 



the year 1790, which was a real calamity to the 

 mining-interests in South America. The super- 

 intendant of that day removed the pillars which 

 had been left by the excavators of the galleries to 

 support the roof. By the superincumbent pres- 

 sure the roof fell in, and the passages became 

 blocked up. " The master miners/' says Hum- 

 boldt, "accused the intendant of having removed 

 the pillars to ingratiate himself with the court of 

 Madrid, by procuring in a very few years a great 

 quantity of mercury. The intendant on his part 

 affirmed that he had acted altogether with the 

 consent of the master miners, who thought the 

 pillars might be replaced by heaps of rubbish." 

 This calamity is only noticed to show how difficult 

 it must have been for the government of Spain to 

 have directed the important affairs of their very 

 remote possessions, and must form an apology for 

 many instances of their mismanagement, if any 

 other apology be needed than the infinitely worse 

 management which has been adopted since those 

 countries have had the task of self-government in- 

 flicted on them by their applauded liberators. 



Whilst the increase of silver was advancing in 

 Peru, that of gold was also going on in South 

 America, in the countries to the north and south 

 of that viceroyalty. In Chili both the Spaniards Chili, 

 and their dependent Indians, with the unconquered 

 Arucanians to the south of the river Biobio, were 

 sedulously employed in washing for gold in those 



