542 



' ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



ten marks per cheft, each chefl containing fifty quintals of ore. This is the cafe of 

 Potofi and Lipes, which, after the expence of carrying the ore to other places, in order 

 to its being refined, and other charges, not only anfwers them all at ten marks per 

 cheft, but the furplus is then very confiderable.' There are likewife other mines 

 ? \4»*(!i4.Tf where, after being refined, a cheft yields only five or fix marks of filver, and in fome 

 only three ; which yet will bear the expence of refining, being in a cheap country, 

 where great numbers of people are willing to work for low wages. Befides the riches 

 contained in the mountains belonging to the jurifdidion of Cuenca, though this refts 

 only on an old Indian tradition, feveral mines have lately been difcovered and worked, 

 but not with the care requifite to reap all the advantages they offer. One of thefe was 

 in the diftrid of Alaufi, at about fix leagues from a plantation called Sufna ; the owner 

 of which, during the intervals of rural labour, ufed to employ his Indians and Negroes 

 in taking out the ore, which he found to be very rich ; but for want of a fufficient 

 fund to profecute this work, and at the fame time not negled his plantation, he never 

 was able to get from the mine that immenfe quantity of filver which its richnefs 

 feemed to promife, if worked in form. All that country is indeed fo full of mines, 

 that with an induftrious turn in the minds of the inhabitants, they would be found in 

 number and richnefs to equal thofe which have proved the fources of fuch infinite wealth 

 to the fouthern provinces of Peru -, but it is far otherwife. This fupinenefs is thought 

 to be ovi'ing to the great plenty ; and confequently a low rate of all kinds of provifions ; 

 for the inhabitants, having all they defire for little or nothing, cannot be prevailed on 

 to Have in digging the earth for gold ; whence the inhabitants of the cities and towns 

 are hindered from acquiring large fortunes, and confequently encreafing them by 

 undertaking to work more mines. Add to this the prejudice, or rather apprehenfion 

 of the difficulties ; which are thought fo great, that when a perfon expreffes his inten- 

 tion of working in fome mine, others look upon him as a man running headlong to his 

 deftruftion, and who rilks certain ruin for remote and uncertain hopes. They endea- 

 vour therefore to divert him from his purpofe ; and if they cannot fucceed in this, 

 they fly fym him as if they were afraid left he fhould communicate the infedion to 

 them. It is not therefore ftrange that thefe mines, fo rich in all appearance, fhould 

 be neglefted, and no perfon found defirous of reaping the great advantages which 

 would doubtiefs refult from working them. This occupation, for want of being fuf- 

 ficiently acquainted with it, is univerfally dreaded : whereas in the fouthern provinces 

 of Quito it is quite otherwife ; the celebrated miners being men of great power, vaft 

 fortunes, and the moft eminent families in the country. Befides which, are great 

 numbers of other miners of more limited circumftanees, all eagerly embracing any 

 opportunity of employing their fubftance in undertaking mines. 



The governments of Quijos and Majos are no lefs abundant in mines than the j«xif^ 

 diftions of Quito ; thofe in Jcten are of infinite richnefs ; and thofe of Maynas and 

 Atacames not inferior to them. With regard to the firft, it is very well known, that 

 the Indians on the banks of the Maranon, by wafhing the fands of fome of the rivers 

 running into it, procure what gold they want, though their defires in this point are as 

 moderate as the avidity of other nations are infatiable. This gold is an evident fign 

 that the adjacent country abounds in mines. As to the fecond, experience has fhewn 

 that the borders of the rivers of Santiago and Mira are full of veins of gold, the Mu- 

 lattos and Meftizos fupplying themfelves with that metal by wafhing the fands. But 

 • neither of them have applied themfelves to difcover the original veins. Befides gold 



and filver mines, the province of Quito has alfo thofe of other metals, and quarries 

 of fine ftone : but tSefe are utterly difregarded by the inhabitants. Yet this province 



could 



