xxviii INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



may hereafter be disposed to contemplate the physical circum- 

 stances of this extraordinary place. 



Although I am apprehensive, it may be considered that the 

 preceding remarks are already extended to too great a length, 

 yet there is a subject adverted to in the early records of the island, 

 which appears to deserve particular notice ; not only, as being 

 connected with the mineralogy of the island, but as it may here- 

 after, if more fully investigated, lead to the most important 

 results. 



In a letter from the Governor and Council to the Honourable 

 the Court of Directors, dated the 1st of December, 1715, it is 

 stated that two Spanish gentlemen, one a priest, the other an 

 engineer, had arrived at the island. These persons having resided 

 a considerable time at Mexico and Peru, professed to have a 

 perfect knowledge of those appearances which are the sure indi- 

 cations of the existence of rich mines. After having examined 

 some parts of the island, they declared their opinion that, "there 

 " are certainly some rich mines of metal here." The Governor, 

 hearing of their conjectures, sent for them, and shewed them 

 several places, where " there is a stoney soil that looks like ore," 

 and they assured him that these are the signals of rich mines of 

 metal: one of them indeed asserted his opinion, that what he 

 saw " was the signal of a gold mine." * 



It would seem, that those Spaniards resided several months on 

 the island, and that Mons. Oliviero was principally consulted ; 

 for, bj a second letter on this subject, we find that Governor 

 Pyke, who appears to have been a man of excellent understanding, 



* " The Governor sent for tliem and shewed tliem several parts of the island where 

 " we have a stony soil that looks like ore ; and they have assured us tliat these are the 

 " signals of rich mines of metal ; and, that one of them they take to be the signal of a 

 " gold mine." Offieial Letter, 1st December, 1715. 



