INTRODUCTORY. 



31 



"It has been always known that much gold existed in all the 

 ravines of the district of Phara, and the proof is the discovery of it, in 

 the present year, at the points called Beinisamayo, Rio Challuhuma, 

 and Acomayo, from which l placeres^ it is certain that even in this 

 short time many arrobas (twenty-five pounds) of fine gold, in the shape 

 of melon seeds, have been taken and seen in Puno Arequipa, &c. 

 The sight of this gold, and the conviction which is entertained of the 

 existence of abundance of this metal, have awakened the avarice of all, 

 and are attracting to Carabaya a concurrence of the people of the 

 departments of La Paz, Puno, Arequipa, and Cuzco. The work must 

 cease, on account of the rains, towards the end of October; but from 

 May onwards, we shall have growing up there a society, heterogeneous, 

 avaricious, and needing authorities and judges, that the 'placeres' may 

 be appointed among the workers according to law ; that property may 

 be secured ; and that those disorders which may be expected to grow 

 out of such a state of affairs may be checked : for the sub-prefect, be- 

 sides being a principal associate in the companies for collecting gold 

 and cascarilla, has not the weight of character necessary in these cases. 

 Moreover, the person who directs in mining matters (Diputaclo de 

 Mineria) resides in Puno, two hundred miles from the point whence 

 the gold is extracted. The companies endeavor, by every means in 

 their power, to hide the riches which exist in the already discovered 

 mines, and to throw difficulties in the way of getting there ; but we 

 know that every trough-full of the earth which is washed gives six 

 ounces and upwards, and that there are only three days on horseback 

 from Phara to the banks of the great river, though the road is some- 

 what rough; and from the other side of the river, (which may be 

 crossed by an oroya or on rafts) to the mines is only one day on foot. 

 The climate of the greater part of the Montana of Carabaya is entirely 

 healthy, and of an endurable heat. Its lands are so rich that they give 

 three crops a year, and produce fine coca, coffee that rivals that of 

 Mocha, superior cacao, potatoes, maize, fruits, raisins of every kind, 

 the vanilla, superior and most abundant woods, and the cascarilla, 

 called calisaya, with all the other classes. Added to this there are 

 rivers with immense fisheries, so that people would do well to colonize 

 there even if there were no gold. The savages, in tribes of more than 

 two hundred souls, live scattered about sixty or ninety miles to the 

 eastward of the placeres. It is necessary to adopt some measures of 

 precaution to anticipate attacks which they would be likely to make 

 on small parties." 



Pimentel says that the Indians on some of the beaches of the great 



