MINERAL WEALTH. 



213 



is evident that Colombia abounds in minerals, and as many as 40,000 hands are 

 already employed in the mining industry. Few rivers probably roll down more 

 auriferous sands than the unhealthy Choco. But mining operations have hitherto 

 been confined to the temperate districts, where the foreign engineers enjoy a 

 climate like that of West Europe. In the course of three hundred and fifty 

 years Colombia has yielded a quantity of gold and silver valued at £140,000,000, or 



Fig. 83. — Landing-stage at Salgae, Port or Savanilla. 



about £400,000 a year. Antioquia, which at present supplies about two-thirds of 

 the auriferous ores, possesses hundreds of known gold-mines, the working of which 

 is determined by the state of the money and labour markets, the facilities of com- 

 munication, and similar outward conditions. Most of those in which the crushing 

 process is needed belong to foreign, and especially English, companies, while the 

 washings along the river-banks are left to the natives. 



