ULLOa's voyage to south AMERICA* 615 



bought by private perfons, and which amounted to no fmall quantity. And as this 

 was confumed in the fpace of fixty-three years, the annual amount is about 3,249 

 quintals. The fecond account is given us by Don Gafper de Efcalona, who, in his 

 Gazophilacio Perubico, declares, from very good authority, that before the year 1638, 

 it appeared by the public accounts, that the produce of the filver amounted to 

 395,619,000 dollars, which, in ninety-three years, the time" it had then been dif- *''^* 

 covered, amounted to 41,255,043 dollars per annum. Hence an idea may b^ formed 

 of the vaft commerce which has for many years been carried on in this town, and 

 which is ftill like to continue for a long time ; fuch enormous fums being annually bar- 

 tered for goods fent hither, its whole trade confifting in ^filver extraded from this 

 mountain ; and if ibme diminution has been perceived in its produce, it is flill very 

 confiderable. 



At a fmall diftance from Potofi, are the hot medicinal baths, called Don Diego, 

 whither, as in other countries, fome refort for health, and others for diverfion. 



The jurifdidion of Tomina begins about eighteen leagues fouth-eaft from the city 

 of Plata, and borders eaftward on a nation of wild Indians, called Chiriguanos. The 

 climate is hot, and confequently its products are fuch as are common to hot countries. 

 Some parts have vineyards, and in others are made confiderable quantities of fugar. 

 It abounds alfo in cattle and fheep. The extent in fome parts is near forty leagues. 

 The vicinity of the Chiriguanos is a continual uneafinefs to the towns in this jurif- 

 didion, and even to the city of Plata itfelf, they having more than once attempted 

 to furprife it. 



III. The jurifdI£tion of Porco begins at the weft fide of the town of Potoli, and 

 about twenty-five leagues diftance from the city of Plata ; extending about twenty far- 

 ther. The coldnefs of its fituatlon occafions a fcarcity of grain and fruits ; but, 

 on the other hand, it abounds in fine cattle of all forts. In this jurifdidion is the 

 mountain of Porco, whence it has its name, and from whofe mines the Yncas, as I 

 have already obferved, extraded all the filver for their expences and ornaments ; and 

 accordingly was the firft mine worked by the Spaniards after the conqueft. 



IV. About thirty leagues fouth of Plata lies the jurifdidion of Tarija, or Chicas, 

 the greateft extent of which is about thirty-five leagues. The temperature of the air 

 is various, being in fome parts hot, and in others cold ; whence it has the advantage 

 of corn, fruits, and cattle. This country every where abounds in mines of gold and 

 filver, and efpecially that part called Chocayas. Between this province and the country 

 inhabited by wild Indians, runs the large river Tipuanys, the fands of which, being 

 mixed with gold, are waftied like thofe of the river Caravaga, already mentioned. 



V. In the fame part as the former, but with a fmall inclination towards the fouth- 

 weft, is the jurifdidion of Lipes, and extends alfo thirty-five leagues. The air is 

 extremely cold, fo that grain and fruit thrive very Uttle here, but it abounds in cattle, ^ 

 particularly thofe natural to the country, as the vicuna, alpaca, or taruga, and the *^ 

 llama. It muft, however, be obferved, that thefe creatures are common to all the 

 other provinces of Punas, that is, to thofe where the heaths and mountains are of fuch 



a height, as to render the air continually cold. Here are alfo mines of gold, but at 

 prefent forfaken, though the remains of the old works are ftill vifible, particularly in 

 one of the mountains near Colcha, known by the name of Abetanis, which, in the 

 Indian language, fignifies a golden mine. That of Stp Chriftopher deAcochala was 

 formerly one of the moft famous in all Peru for the richnefs of its filver rnines, 

 the metal being in fome parts cut out with a chiffel, but now very greatly declined ; 

 which may, in a great meafure, be imputed to a want of people for working them : it 

 YOi., XIV. 4 jL being 



