PERU. 279 
lift removed. It will excite some wonder that steam is not employed 
in the draining of such valuable mines. It has, however, been 
tried ; a few years previous to the revolution four steam engines, of 
thirty horse power each, were brought out from England, and three 
of them put up in the districts of Santa Rosa, Cayac, and Zaura- 
cancha. That of Zauricocha was not set up, but the other three 
were worked with some success. 
A level was driven from the engine-shaft of Santa Rosa, into the 
mines of Zauricocha, and rich ores were raised. The engine of 
Cayac did little more than assist that of Zauricocha, which, on 
account of the greater quantity of water, was barely able to do the 
work required of it. The expense incurred by the house of Abodia 
in this undertaking was upwards of six hundred thousand dollars, 
and at the moment when they had begun to receive a good return for 
their capital, the revolution broke out, and the troubles incident to it 
put a stop to their work, and left them with that amount of loss. 
Subsequently, at the close of the war, the engine of Santa Rosa was 
again put in operation, and in parts of the years 1826 and 1827, a 
considerable quantity of silver was produced, in virtue of the 
drainage effected by it. 
Some abortive attempts were made to use the engine of Zauri- 
cocha, from 1829 to 1833, but since that time they have all been 
abandoned, and considered as unserviceable. 
The establishments for grinding and amalgamating the ores are 
situated at from one mile to three leagues from the mines, those 
nearest the town are deficient in w-ater for several months in the year. 
The construction of all these mills is rude, and much power is lost. 
A mill will grind two hundred boxes of the hardest ore, provided it 
has a constant stream of water. The amalgamation of the ore with 
mercury is effected by its being trodden by horses in circular 
enclosures, containing from five to ten boxes. The consumption of 
mercury between mechanical and chemical loss is about one pound 
for each marc of silver produced. 
No attempts have yet been made at roasting any of the ores. 
Coal mines are met with in various parts of the country, at the 
distance of from tw r o to seven leagues ; the price is one real for an 
arroba, but might be much reduced if the business w r as properly 
attended to. 
Various plans have been formed at Lima and in England to 
purchase and work these mines, but with what success is very 
