CHAP. XXI. AMERICAN MINES. 



extremity. Some was also found, but only to- 

 wards the latter end of the seventeenth century, 

 in the province of Choco ; which afterwards yielded, 

 in proportion to its extent, a greater quantity 

 of that metal than any other part of the globe, 

 though its climate is one of the most unhealthy in 

 the whole of America. 



The chief increase between 1500 and 1600 was 

 of silver from the viceroy alty of Mexico, where Mexico. 

 the production of Zaccatecas, Guanaxuato, and 

 the other mining-districts had advanced from the 

 value of two million piastres to that of five 

 millions, and at the latter part of the century had 

 far exceeded that annual average. 



Although when the Spaniards conquered Mexico 

 they appear to have annihilated the higher classes, 

 yet the population which was left was quite suf- 

 ficient to supply labourers, and recourse was 

 never had to the cruel and costly practice of 

 importing negroes from Africa to execute the 

 most servile part of the work, as had been done 

 in Peru, Buenos Ayres, and Columbia. The in- 

 troduction of cattle and of vegetable productions 

 from Europe, which had been unknown before in 

 Mexico, afforded abundance of subsistence; and 

 if the population did not increase it did not greatly 

 diminish under the Spanish yoke. The feudalism 

 which was found in Mexico was rather of a 

 paternal than a slavish character; and the same 

 system was continued by the new proprietors of 



