Sketch of the Mine of Pasco. 47 



teresting particulars relating to this subject, with which all wish to 

 become acquainted, unless the writer is accurately, or at least in some 

 degree a mineralogist, philosopher and merchant. My efforts are 

 not adequate to so great an undertaking ; but the desire I feel of 

 giving the literary world some idea of the wealth of Yuricocha, 

 and the manner of working its mines, enables me to conquer the 

 innumerable obstacles which present themselves ; at the same time, I 

 hope my readers will be liberal enough to pardon the faults I may 

 commit in so complicated a task. For the sake of clearness, we 

 will divide this subject into five parts. 



1st. Physical appearances, and geographical description. 



2d. Geognostic description. 



3d. Manner of working the mines, and extracting the metals. 



4th. The profit and wealth arising from them. 



5th. Number of mines, and their produce for a certain period. 



Physical Aspect. 



The Cordillera of the Andes, united in Cuzco, between the paral- 

 lels of 14° and 15° S. lat. divides into two branches; the eastern 

 runs to the east of Huanta, Ocopa, Jauja, and Yarma ; the western 

 diverges to the west of Castrovireyna, Yauli, Huaypacha and Pasco. 

 Near Huanuco these unite, and continue in this manner some dis- 

 tance. Three branches then rise ; the eastern commences be- 

 tween Puzuzu and Muna, the central passes between the river Hu- 

 alla and Maranon, and the coasts of Trujillo and Payta ; these again 

 join in Loja. The two branches which proceed from Cuzco, 

 stretching out, surround the pampa of Bombon, the lake of Chin- 

 chaycocha, or Reyes, and the range of Pasco. Various colossal 

 summits are seen in both, covered with perpetual snow, as those of 

 Vinda, Potosi, Yaguahuanca, those of Huarochiri, of Oyon, and 

 many others not designated by name. One of these is seen from 

 the ranges of Pasco, which is in the branch of eastern, or royal 

 mountain, dividing the llanos of the ridge in which the richest 

 mines are found. The western branch, or, as it is called, the Cor- 

 dillera of Oyon, inclines to a juncture more rapidly than the other, 

 from the quicksilver mine of Cuypard, forming a regular semicircle ; 

 the breadth of the Cordillera from Lima to the termination of the 

 road to Chanchamayo, is between eighty and ninety leagues in a di- 

 rect fine, according to an approximate calculation. Between these 



