CHAP, II. ANCIENT MINES. 



CHAPTER II. 



On the mines of the ancients in the several parts of the 



world. 







HAVING taken a survey of the great accumu- Asia east of 

 lation of the precious metals which had been 

 formed in the early ages of the world, we may 

 attempt to trace out the various sources from 

 which they had been collected, as well as the 

 means used for obtaining and adapting them to 

 the purposes of human life. 



Herodotus has given, in his third book, cap. 

 89 97) an account of the satrapies or provinces 

 into which Darius, after the conquest of Babylon, 

 divided his vast dominions. The division was 

 made for the purposes of taxation, and the 

 account shows the amount of the tribute im- 

 posed on the several portions of his empire. 

 This may serve as a guide to the various coun- 

 tries which were believed to be capable of fur- 

 nishing to the royal treasury supplies of gold and 

 silver. It does not, however, enable us to ascer- 

 tain what portion of those metals was the product 

 of the country from which it was required, or 

 what part of it was obtained in such country by 



