Sketch of the Mine of Pasco. 59 



engines, and then it bears the name of Jiy^s iving. On the West of 

 the mine, at the distance of three leagues, is the insulated chain of 

 Raco, in the form of a cylinder mutilated at the top ; it is composed 

 of a fine grunstein, with crystals of amphibole : it is very hard, and 

 of a bluish color, with black spots. This rock is the same with that 

 found in a considerable stratum in the gres, at the ascent of Pigcha- 

 ca, on the road Pinches, and Chalaya, road to Tussy. The mill- 

 stones of the engines, on the river of Quinlachoca, are of this stone. 



Manner of working the Mines, and extracting the Metals. 



The mines of Yaurichocher, (the proper name is ridge of St. Ste- 

 phen, of Lauricocha,) were discovered about tlie year 1630, by an 

 Indian, called Huari Capacha, a shepherd of the estate of Paria, to 

 which tltis tract of land belongs. As he was one evening feeding 

 his flocks, in Santa Rosa, he made a fire to warm himself, and at 

 the same time to prepare his scanty meal ; the stones he collected for 

 the hearth, and those at the bottom, melted, and he discovered 

 tlireads of silver. Being pleased with this phenomenon, he went im- 

 mediately to the town of Pasco, two leagues distant, which at that 

 lime was the seat of the mine, and all its inhabitants worked in the 

 chain of Colquijirca, celebrated for its numerous and rich metals. 

 The discoverer spoke to D. Joseph Ugarte, showing him the stones 

 he had picked up ; this man set out for the place, and convinced of 

 the trutli of the accounts of the native, began to work in St. Rosa, 

 and was exploding with the greatest success. On hearing of his 

 mines, many resorted thither, and among them, D. Martin Retuerto, 

 who worked the mine of Lauricocha, making the first excavation in 

 it. D. Joseph Miguel Maiz, in 1740, bought of the heirs of Retu- 

 erto, this same mine, and directed an excavation to the same part, 

 concluding it in 1760. Maiz, who undertook it, obtained the favor 

 of styling himself " Marquis of the Royal Confidence," and by virtue 

 of a great quantity of quicksilver, he extracted the precious metal from 

 the Cajas, and faithfully fulfilled his engagements. When it was 

 known that the metals were rich and productive, the Salcedos 

 came from Puno, to work in Yaurichoca and Pariajurca ; this pro- 

 perty afterwards fell to the family of the Arrietas. All the mines 

 produced thousands and thousands of marks, extracted solely from 

 tlie Paces. But when the steam engines were introduced, in tlie 

 year 1816, by a famous contract bet^veen the Messrs. Abadia, Aris- 



