79 



this mine furnished pepitas, or pieces of pure 

 copper, from fifty to a hundred weightj which 

 the writers of those times represent as of a beau- 

 tiful colour resembling pinchbeck, and contain- 

 ing iu general more than an equal portion of 

 gold. This metal was so pure and easily sepa- 

 rated from its matrix, that it required only a 

 conniion fire to melt it. 



A mine has lately been discovered at Curico, 

 which is as rich as that of Payen. The ore 

 consists of gold and copper in equal proportions, 

 and the inhabitants have named it natural avan- 

 turiiie,* from its being filled with brilliant par- 

 Pampas (or irreat plains) of Paraguav, and a hundred from 

 Conception ; in one of which have been discovered mines of 

 copper so jjioduciive that they have yielded pieces of pure 

 ore of a hundred quinlals u eight. To one of these spots, 

 which the IiuHans call Payen, that is copper, the discoverer, 

 Don Juan INIe'.cndez, gave the name of St. Joseph. I saw at 

 Conception a piece of ore of fortv quintals weight, from which, 

 when smelted., wore cast sis. field pieces of six pounds caliber. 

 And nothing is unue coninion than to i^ieet with stones com- 

 posed partly of pure and partly of impure co})per. which has 

 gi\cn rise to the observation, t!iat the soil of this country is crea- 

 tive ; that i'^, tliat cupper is couhLantiv procluced or cieatedin 

 it. T!ie same mountain coulaiiis mines of lanis lazuii, and the 

 other which is near it, called hy the Sjaru'ardi Cerro de Santa 

 Inis, is pjiticu'.arly remarkable for i^rcal qiianlit its of load- 

 stons, of wiiieli it appears to be euti;^;_\ co;:';;ostd Frazicr's 

 yoi/age, vol. i. 



' A precious stone of a yellowish coiou'; fuii of sinu;! speck? 

 of gold. 



