ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 543 



could not attain the complete pofleflion of its riches, if to the mines of gold and filver, 

 nature had not added thofe materials which are neceffary in extracting the treafures 

 they contain, and in the other fervices of life : nor could this country be properly faid 

 to be rich in mines, if it afforded only thofe of gold and filver ; but nature, that there 

 might be no deficiency in her gift, hath alfo furnifhed it with mines of azogue or quick- 

 filver, which are found in the fouthern extremity of the province, near a village of the 

 fame name belonging to the jarifdidion of Cuenca. Formerly the quickfilver for the 

 gold and filver mines was furniftied from hence ; but this has been fuppreffed j fo that 

 at prefent only thofe of Guanca Velica are allowed to be worked : by which means a 

 ftop has been put to thofe frauds difcovered in the payments of the fifths ; the miners, 

 inftead of applying to the mine-ofEces within their department, or the principal ftaple, 

 fupplying themfelves with contraband mercury. And the end has been fully anfwered 

 with regard to the revenue ; frauds being now much more difficult, and confequently lefs 

 frequent, fince the quickfilver can be had only from one mine, than when feveral were 

 open. But at the fame time it is certain, that this prohibition was the principal caufe 

 of the decay of the filver mines in the province of Quito : and had the cafe been duly 

 examined, many other remedies might have been found to prevent thefe clandefline 

 praftices, befides an abfolute obftruftion to. fo great a part of the riches of that country. 

 It is the opinion of fome naturalifts, and the marks of it ai'e indeed very evident, 

 that the ground on which the city of Cuenca (lands, is entirely an iron mine, its veins 

 Ihewing themfelves in the chafms of fome breaches ; and the pieces taken out of the 

 floughs prove it beyond difpute, not only by their colour and weight, but by being 

 attradled by the magnet, when reduced to fmall pieces ; and many intelligent perfons 

 in thefe fpecies of mines affirm, that it not only is an iron- mine, but alfo of extreme 

 richnefs ; though this has not been afcertained by» experiment. 



It is alfo equally unqueflionable, that, were it poffible to turn the induftry of the 

 inhabitants into this channel, mines of copper, tin, and lead, might alfo be difcovered, 

 though no fuch thing is at prefent known. But it is natural to fuppofe, that, where 

 there are fo many mines of the moft precious metals, thofe of copper and lead are not 

 wanting. In the next chapter, I Ihall give fome account of other mines ; together with 

 the quarries of curious (lone, and feveral ancient monuments of antiquity, that nothing 

 may be wanting towards the complete knowledge of this province, from which Spain 

 derives fuch great advantages. 



CHAP. XI. — Monuments of the ancient Indians ^ in the Jurifdiclion of Quito. — Account 

 of the feveral Gems and Quarries found near that City, 



THE ancient inhabitants of Peru were far enough from carrying the fciences to any 

 perfection, before the conquefl of the country by the Spaniards. They were not def- 

 titute of all knowledge of them ; but it was fo faint and languid, that it was far from 

 being fufficient for cultivating their minds. They had alfo fome glimmerings of the 

 mechanic arts ; but their fimplicity, or want of tafte, was fo remarkable, that, unlefs 

 forced by abfolute neceffity, they never departed from the models before them. The 

 progrefs and improvements they made were owing to induftry, the common dire£trefs 

 of mankind. A clofe application fupplied the want of fcience. Hence, after a long 

 feries of time, and exceffive labour, they raifed works, not fo totally void of art and 

 beauty, but that fome particulars raife the admiration of an attentive fpeCtatot. ^ Such 

 for inftance, were fome of thofe ftructures, of which we have ftill fuperb ruins, in 



which. 



