SILVER MINES OF SICASICA. 



121 



CHAPTER V. 



Silver mines of Sicasica — Productions of the Puna or Table lands — An exile re- 

 turning home — Department of Oruro — Silver, copper, and tin— Climate — A 

 chicha factorer — The expedition out of Titicaca basin and into Madeira Plata — 

 Department of Potosi — Population, climate, and productions — Rio Pilcomayo — 

 Mint — Quicksilver trade— Imperfect mining operations— Smuggling of precious 

 metals — Statistics of silver — Trade with the Argentine Confederation — Port of 

 Cobija — Desert of Atacama — Eastern side of the Andes — Frosty mountain 

 tops and thermal streams — A Washwoman — Cinchona bark ascending to the 

 South Pacific — Department of Cochabamba — Increase of Creoles — Incas 

 colony of Quichua Indians — Hail storm— Gardens— Fig trees — City of Cocha- 

 bamba — Hospitality of the merchants — The President of Bolivia and his cabi- 

 net — Commercial proposition— Brazilian minister — President Belzu — Cavalry 

 and infantry — Armor of the Bolivian troops — Public force — Calacala gardens — 

 Market people — Rio Mamore— Legislative power — Church ceremony — Cli- 

 mate — A bishop's opinion of the consequences of steamboat navigation — 

 Cabinet ministers — Reception of a farmer by the President — Heavy shock of 

 an earthquake — Sudden departure of the Government — Clisa Fair — Trade to 

 the Pacific coast. 



After changing our baggage mules at the small Indian town of 

 Ayoayo, we came to a winding stream, a tributary of Desaguedero, on 

 which was a grist-mill, and arrived at Chicta post-house, which stands 

 alone like a toy-house in the middle of this green-carpeted plain. At 

 5 p. m., December 4, 1851, thermometer, 52° ; wet bulb, 42°. A view 

 of sunset over the snow-peaked mountains is most beautiful. The 

 post-house is well kept by a Creole with a wife and large family of 

 children. 



Three hundred Indians work the silver mines in the neighborhood. In 

 this province, Sicasica, there exist three hundred and twenty abandoned, 

 silver mines. The yield of the nine mines at present worked produces 

 some profit, but no fortunes are made by those concerned. Antimony 

 and stonecoal of good quality have been discovered. 



During the cold nights here, dew from the damp winds freezes. We 

 observed no dew to the west of the Illimani. 



As we move to the southeast the bushes are larger ; some of them 

 are three feet high. A moss grows, besides the sprigs of grass, on which 

 the llamas feed, as they slowly move under loads of grain on the way 

 to the grist-mill. 



Scarcity of vegetables appears to produce an intimacy among animals. 



