CHAP. XXII. AMERICAN MINES. 159 



the province of Barbacoas and that of Antioquia. 

 It was coined and paid duty at the two mints of 

 Santa Fe de Bogota and Popayan. It was stated 

 in 1801 to average about two million five hun- 

 dred thousand piastres, and the quantity had not 

 materially increased or diminished for a long 

 period : it may then be permitted to be taken, 

 during the period of one hundred and ten years 

 we are viewing, at that rate, and thus yielding 

 two hundred and seventy-five million dollars, 

 or fifty-seven million three hundred and forty- 

 one thousand six hundred and sixty-six pounds 

 sterling. 



Some silver mines were discovered about the 

 year 1790 in the plain of Supia, when the ores 

 were found in the greatest quantity, but the opera- 

 tions were suspended on account of certain law- 

 proceedings. A mine was also opened at Manta 

 in 1791, which had only produced eight thousand 

 seven hundred marcs of silver, in a period during 

 which the expenses had amounted to two hundred 

 and sixteen thousand piastres, when the working was 

 abandoned. These mines of silver, though here 

 noticed, could only have an insignificant effect on 

 the annual produce during the long term from 

 1700 to 1809. 



The province or captain-generalship of Chili chffi. 

 produced small quantities of gold, and during 

 the last century still less of silver. Its produce, 

 however, did not vary much, and the chief part 



