MINES IN CHAP. XXV. 



formerly the government of Carraccas, has, per- 

 haps, suffered more, and for a longer period, than 

 any other part of the southern continent. Its chief 

 produce, as far as our purpose requires notice, 

 was gold. This was procured in two ways : either 

 by alluvial washing, or by river washing. The 

 first of these modes was practised exclusively by 

 slaves; and some proprietors of those unfortunate 

 beings destined them to that occupation alone. 

 The auriferous soils are moist in tropical climates, 

 and peculiarly unhealthy; and the excessive labour 

 required a constant supply to keep up the number 

 of labourers. When the internal troubles broke 

 out in 1810 and 1811, those who obtained pos- 

 session of power issued decrees pronouncing free- 

 dom to the slaves, which, with whatever intention 

 it might have been designed, only increased the 

 misery of their condition ; for wherever they were 

 found they were pressed into the military service 

 of the several contending factions, who happened 

 to gain a temporary superiority in any of the 

 districts. 



For some years past this operation of alluvial 

 washing for gold has been confined to secluded 

 individuals, who by their distance from the im- 

 mediate seat of hostilities continued the employ- 

 ment, but with very little profit. This kind of 

 labour has been generally diverted to others of 

 a more profitable description. The soil on the 

 alluvial land is naturally fertile, and with little 



