46 Sketch of the Mine of Pasco. 



10. Some specimens from Chili, furnished by the lady of Com- 

 modore Hull, accord very well with some of the pieces of native 

 silver already described ; one piece, which is nearly pure, weighs 

 two pounds avoirdupois, and another which consists principally of 

 silver, interspersed through calc spar, weighs one pound and three 

 quarters. 



1 1 . Among the specimens of Mr. Coit, are several silver images, 

 said to be dug from the graves of the aboriginal Peruvians. They 

 are generally from two to three inches in length, and are rude and 

 sometimes ludicrous resemblances of the human form ; they have gen- 

 erally crowns or helmets on their heads ; one figure clasps an infant ; 

 another a harp, or other instrument of music ; and another, (the largest 

 of this kind,) has a kind of a Chapeauhras, ornamented with a crescent, 

 on his head, a sceptre or spear in one hand, and something, swinging like 

 a basket, in the other. The images, mentioned above, appear to be 

 cast. There is still another image, carved rudely out of silver ore, 

 but consisting principally of native silver. It is much larger than 

 either of the others. This appears to represent a large baboon, or 

 some animal of that family, riding on a ferocious beast, and holding 

 his upper jaw with his hand. These images prove, if proof were 

 ■wanting, that the ancient Peruvians were familiar witli silver ; and 

 that they regarded it as among the most precious of their possessions, 

 is obvious from their depositing these silver Penates, with tlie remains 

 of their departed friends. 



With the specimens of Mrs. Hull, is an image of a large dog, or 

 perhaps a lion, cast in silver, but this appears to be modern, and not 

 to have had any connexion with the rites of sepulture.* 



Sketch of the Mine of Pasco, Sfc. 



Among the great resources which Peru enjoys, the mountainous 

 chain of Yauricocha, or Pasco, ranks first ; famous in the history of 

 mineralogy, not only for the treasures it yields, but also for the vast 

 mass of metallic ore which it contains, and for a variety of other cir- 

 cumstances which render it worthy of note in the eyes of a naturalist. 

 It is unquestionably difficult to give a complete account of the in- 



* Yale College is indebted lo Commodore Hull, for a beautiful series of naval 

 liistorical paintings, and for various minerals and articles of curiosity from Peru, 

 Chili, Africa, and other countries. 



