so 



tides that give it a beautiful appearance. This 

 metal is used by the goldsmiths for rings^ brace- 

 lets, and other ornaments of jewelry. 



In the province of Huilquilemu are hills that 

 furnish a copper ore combined with zinc, or a 

 real native brass. It is found in pieces of various 

 sizes, and the matrix is a brittle earthy stone of 

 ayellow colour, or a dull green. This substance, 

 which has hitherto been obtained only by arti- 

 ficial means, probably owes its formation to 

 subterraneous fires, which sublimating the zinc, 

 and combining it with the copper, has produced 

 this extraordinary natural mixture. It is of a 

 fine yellow colour, and as malleable as the best 

 artificial brass, and is called Laxa copper, from 

 the river of that name in the vicinity of themine. 



The method of melting the ore is very simple : 

 After separating it from the earth and super- 

 fluous matrix, it is broken into small pieces with 

 wooden pestles. These pieces arc placed between 

 layers of wood, which are set on fire, and the 

 heat kept up with a large bellows moved by 

 water. The furnace is constructed of an ad- 

 hesive clay; but the bottom, which is slightly 

 inclined towards the centre, is formed of a ce- 

 ment of plai-:(er and calcined bones. The vault 

 contains a sufficient number of outlets for the 

 smoke, and at the top is an aperture that may 

 be closed or opened at pleasure, which serves for 

 the iiitroduclion of ovc and fur). 



