ULLOA's voyage to south AMERfCA. 545 



The manner of opening the guacas is, to cut the lower part at right angles, the ver- 

 tical and horizontal line meeting in the centre, where the corpfe and its furniture are 

 found. 



. The (lone mirrors taken out of the guacas are of two forts ; one of the ynca-ftone, 

 and the other of the gallinazo-ftone : the former is not tranfparent, of a lead colour, 

 but foft ; they are generally of a circular form, and one of the furfaces flat, with all 

 the fmoothnefs of a cryftal looking-glafs ; the other oval and fomething fpherical, and 

 the polifh not fo fine. They are of various fizes, but generally of three or four inches 

 diameter, though I faw one of a foot and a half; its principal furface was con- 

 cave, and greatly enlarged objeds ; nor could its polifh be exceeded by the beft work- 

 men among us. The great fault of this ftone is, its having feveral veins and flaws, 

 which, befides the difadvantage to the furface of the mirror, render it liable to be 

 broken by any little accident. Many are inclined to think that it is not natural, but 

 artificial. There are, it mufl; indeed be owned, fome appearances of this, but not fuf- 

 ficient for conviftion. Among the breaches in this country, fome quarries of them are 

 found ; and quantities continue to be taken out, though no longer worked for the ufe 

 the Indians made of them. This does not, however, abfolutely contradid: the fufion 

 of them, in order to heighten their quality, or call them into a regular form. 



The gallinazo-fl:one is extremely hard, but as brittle as flint : it is fo called from its 

 black colour, in allufion to the colour of the bird of that name, and is in fome meafure 

 diaphanous. This the Indians worked equally on both fides, and reduced it into a cir- 

 cular figure. On the upper part they drilled a hole for a firing to hang it by j the 

 furfaces were as fmooth as thofe of the former, and very exadly refle6l objeds. The 

 mirrors made of this ftone were of different kinds, fome plain, fome concave, and others 

 convex. I have feen them of all kinds : and, from the delicacy of the workmanfhip, 

 one would have thought thefe people had been furnifhed with all kinds of inftruments, 

 and completely fkilled in optics. Some quarries of this ftone are likewife met with ; 

 but they are entirely neglected, though its tranfparency, colour, and hardnefs, befides 

 its having no flaws or veins, render it very beautiful. 



The copper axes of the Indians differ very little in their fhape from ours : and it 

 appears that thefe were the inftruments with which they performed moft of their works : 

 for if not the only, they are the moft common edge-tools found among them ; and the 

 whole apparent difference betwixt thofe they ufe, confifts only in fize and fhape : for 

 though they all refemble an axe, the edge in fome is more circular than in others. 

 Some have a concave edge, others a point on the oppofite fide, and a fluted handle. 

 Thefe inftruments were not all of copper, fome having been found of gallinazo, and of 

 another ftone fomething refembling the flint, but lefs hard and pure. Of this ftone, 

 and that of the gallinazo, are feveral points, fuppofed to have been heads of fpears, as 

 thefe were their two chief inftruments or weapons : for, had they ufed any other, fome 

 would doubtlefs have been found among the infinite number of guacas which have been 

 opened. 



The guaqueros, or drinking-vefFels, are of a very fine black earth : but the place 

 where they were made is utterly unknown. They are round, and with a handle in the 

 middle, the mouth on one fide, and on the other the head of an Indian, whofe features 

 are fo naturally expreffed, that very few of our workmen could equal it. Others, 

 though of the fame form, are of a red earth. Befides which, there are found larger 

 and fmaller veffels of both kinds of earth ufed in making and keeping the chicha. 



Among the gold pieces are the nofe-jewels, which in form refemble the foot of a 

 chalice, and very little lefs : thefe were appended to the feptum, which divides the two 



VOL. XIV. 4 A noftrils. 



