89 



h&s not become incorporated with the silver, ex~ 

 pressed from it. In this state of paste the 

 amalgam receives any shape, but is usually 

 formed with moulds into small cylindrical tubes. 

 The last process is that of separating the mer- 

 cury from the silver; this is done, by means of 

 evaporation, in a receiver which is filled with 

 water, and closely fitted with a head. The 

 small quantity of lead or other metal that may 

 remain after this process can only be detached 

 by melting it. 



Gold, of all the metals, is that which is most 

 abundant in Chili, and it may be said that there 

 is not a mountain or hill but contains it in a 

 greater or less degree ; it is found also in the 

 sands of the plains,, but more especially in those 

 washed down by ihe brooks and rivers.* Seve- 

 ral French and Eiiglish aalhcrs affirm that the 

 gold of Chili is the purest and most valuable of 

 any; and it is true that i^s general standard is 

 from twenty-two to twenty-three and a half 

 carats. In tlie southern provinces, between the 



* A person, on cpenin^ a \vater-cour!=e to an estate in the 

 plain of Iluilquilemu, discovered, witi) nmcli surprise, a veia 

 of gold du-t, which produced more tlian fifty-' hou.and dollars 

 withoat (li(j Iciist labour. The same good foitiinc occurred to 

 another in ploughing a piece of land for grain. These in- 

 stances are not nnusual ; and uaturaii-ts Ijuvo given the name 

 of viontas to these kind of casual njines, v.hicb are always of 

 jiuali extent. 



