l8 ON THE COPPER 



Europe, are by no means a conclusive proof of 

 the inferiority of intellect which the fortunate in- 

 habitants of Europe liberally bestow on their less 

 enlightened brethren of the East and West. That 

 " time and chance happen unto all things under the 

 sun," is a truth that amounts to a voluminous dis- 

 quisition on this subject. But to return. The ore- 

 gatherers chuse a level spot of hard clay, which 

 they divide into equidistant points, by lines inter- 

 secting each other, and laid off equally on two sides 

 of a square. These points, included in the square 

 space, they surround with circles, of which the 

 points are the centres. The circles are inverted 

 bases of cones, excavated to receive the fuzed 

 metal. The smelting space is now covered with 

 wood, charcoal, and other combustible matters, 

 and the ore is distributed among; these admixtures. 

 The melted ore is received into the formed holes, 

 leaving the scoriae or recrement above. The metal, 

 still requiring many smeltings to render it fit for 

 use, or perfectly malleable and ductile, is taken 

 cut-in the form of pointed cakes, and sold for 

 twenty Spanish dollars pev pecul, or five pounds ster- 

 ling for 133J- pounds avoirdupois weight. The na- 

 tives are particularly careful in preventing acci- 

 dents ; for, previously to fusing the ore, they heat 

 the ground to a great degree, in order that all the 

 water near the surface may be absorbed, or made 

 to exhale 3 having experienced, I imagine, that 

 copper when in a state of fusion, meeting the 

 smallest quantity of water, will ily to all directions, 



with 



