128 Scientific Intelligence. 
in 
ae 5 
ments. v are being. g carried on, and. white so much capo to 
Ha the traffic | tween different parts of the country. 
ecious metals cannot ained until _ rock is decompose 
gold partially ps abies in pools, by the acto of the rains. 
The inhabitants of these auriferous steph are well acquainted with 
the places in which the gold is collected ; they are also expert washers 
notwithstanding, i in consequence of the small quantity of gold seated 
and the excessive labor required to remove the accumulation of stones, 
they seldom gain more than 4 rials a-day—rather less than more ; at 
yet, in the face of repeated misfortunes, they are so infatuated fared this 
work, that they are unwilling to aque the labor of searching for gold, 
in order to direct their energies to a more certain and profitable occupa- 
tion. So ic 
taken place at Santa Rita and Pequeni ; these fortunate casualties serve 
to. wag alive the interest felt, and, when they occur, they gcparally oc- 
n the loss of much useful capital and labor, by the excitement 
uced, and the consequent search for gold lodes; which mnie 
notion is fostered by the supposition that all minerals, or metals, must 
ag from lodes; under the same, ey a impression, poor go 
s are worked—their only merit ing in vague | traditional na 
that some rich deposits had heen Srraettae discovered in-the vicin 
gold washings are commonly called ‘* mines,” and the term. mie as 
to the supposition of the. existence of ‘metallic veil 
eposits, though they may be widely different in their character from 
ue lodes; and, consequently, persons entering into these ruinous 
speculations, who are unac acquainted with their nature by practical ex- 
_ perience, are deceived ; and,, ‘unfortunately, the elementary books on 
these subjects, instead of giving information, add to the confusion—and 
us it happens, that capital is frequently thrown away on useless specu- 
lations. ‘The gold washings of Santa Rita and Pequeni_ are the product 
of decomposed auriferous rocks ; and the gold is, as it always happens, 
of much purer quality and better standard than. that. obtained. tod 
The decomposed deposits of Santa Rita and Pequeni, situa’ 
on elevated Cordilleras, are very unfavorably placed for water; the pr 
corencshings. are limited to the portions washed by the rains during thie 
yee 
d Ree found a few specimens of hepatic iron in Pequeni,, and great 
quantities of the peroxyd and protoxyd of iron ; but as these can be of 
no service in this part of the world, it is unnecessary to dilate ; 
it is also useless to allude to the re of silver, the description s al- 
ready given being sufficient for the pur 
Very fine trees are to be seen on the beaks of the sete especially 
of the species called cedar. Having crossed the isthmus three times, | 
penetrated, on foot, through forests and rivers, and _ ave bi saptineie 7 
