194 CHILL 



a league. On leaving the gully, they gradually ascended until they 

 reached the ranchos at Jaquel, at the foot of the mountain where the 

 mines were situated. It being too late to make the ascent to the mines 

 that night, the running streams in the neighbourhood were visited, but 

 nothing was found. They were entirely destitute of fluviatile shells 

 and mollusca. Other objects of interest were, however, obtained, in 

 the classes of insects and reptilia, which will be described in the 

 reports of these different departments. At sunset the snowy mountains 

 exhibited a magnificent sight ; lighted up and glistening in the sun- 

 shine, it appeared as though some tremendous conflagration had 

 broken out. After this, the progress of night produces a peculiar 

 effect. It was quite dark in the valley, while the lofty summits were 

 yet tinged by the setting sun. The limit of darkness was distinctly 

 seen advancing upwards like a dark wall, and as it ascended, peak 

 after peak became lost to view, until the whole was enshrouded in 

 obscurity. 



The part of this valley where the ranchos are situated is called La 

 Vega of Jaquel. This is the principal smelting-place, the ore being 

 brought here by mules from the foot of the mountain, down whose 

 sides it is thrown from the mines. The descent is about two thousand 

 feet, and very steep. Mr. Alderson stated that it took thirty seconds 

 for the ore to descend. The face of the mountain from long usage in 

 this way is worn quite smooth. The ranchos at the mine, about six 

 hundred feet below the summit, on the steep mountain side, are visible 

 from the smelting huts. The Jaquel valley is said to contain a few 

 sulphur springs, which are reported as poisonous. Our gentlemen had 

 not time to visit them. The temperature, before leaving San Felipe, 

 at six o'clock, a. m., was 45°, at 10 a. m., 54°; at Jaquel, three hundred 

 feet above the sea, at 5 h 30 m , it was 55°, at 11 p. m. 51.° 



Mr. Newman had previously lost much property here by the burning 

 of his whole establishment, excepting two buildings, fire having been 

 communicated to the thatched roof by the sparks from the furnace, 

 during a tornado that passed over. So rapidly had the flames spread, 

 that it was with difficulty that Mr. Newman and his agent saved their 

 lives. Besides the loss of buildings, a ]arge quantity of machinery, 

 lately imported from England, was destroyed. 



On the 21st May, they set out on mules for the mines, accompanied 

 by Mr. Alderson, and reached them about ten o'clock. Their first 

 act was to change their boots for a pair of raw-hide shoes, such as 

 are used by the miners, in order to insure a safer footing. They now 

 entered the principal gallery, which was about seven feet high and five 

 broad, excavated for about twenty yards horizontally ; it then divides 



