81 



At the bottom of the furnace is a hole for the 

 passage of the liquefied metal, which is conveyed 

 into a receptacle, and from thence taken and re- 

 fined in the European manner. 



[ do not know what quantity of copper is an- 

 nually obtained from the mines, but from the ex- 

 portation it must be very considerable. Five or 

 six ships sail every year for Spain^ each of which 

 usually carries twenty thousand quintals or up- 

 wards. Much is also sent to Buenos-Ayres by 

 land; and the Peruvians, who have an extensive 

 commerce with the coast, export at least thirty 

 thousand quintals yearly, which is principally 

 employed in their sugar works. Besides which, 

 the quantity made use of in the cannon foun- 

 dries, and for domestic purposes, is by no means 

 inconsiderable. 



The mines of copper are not confined to any 

 particular district, but scattered throughout the 

 country; those of silver, on the contrary, are 

 found only in the highest and coldest parts of 

 Hie Andes. This situation, so unfavourable for 

 working them, and the vast expense of refining, 

 have caused a great number of mine?, tliojgh rich 

 in ore, to be abandoned, and there are but tliree 

 or four that are at present worked. Siit it may 

 be presumed, when the population of this coun- 

 try becomes increased and its industry excited, 

 that these mines, now neglected, will become an 



VOL. J, G 



