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discoverer of the mine. As the opening of a mine 

 is very injurious to the cultivation of the land in 

 which it is situated, the proprietors of the soil en- 

 deavour to prevent as much as possible the discovery 

 of veins in their grounds. The number of persons 

 who fiock from all quarters to a newly opened mine 

 that promises to be profitable is almost incredible. 

 Some come thither to work, others to sell their 

 provisions, which at such times are in great de- 

 mand ; and in this manner a kind of fair is gra- 

 dually established, which leads to the erection of 

 houses, and finally to the formation of a permanent 

 town or village. A magistrate, with the title of the 

 Alcayde of the mine, is then appointed by the govern- 

 ment to regulate and superintend it, and as this 

 office is almost always very lucrative the governor of 

 the province generally assumes it and appoints a 

 deputy to manage it for his account. 



The miners of Chili are in general well acquainted 

 with metallurgy. They are expert in mining and 

 in the art of assaying and refining metals ; but their 

 knowledge is wholly practical and they are entirely 

 ignorant of the theory or the real principles of the 

 art. They are divided into three classes, the first 

 those who labour in the mine, the second the foun- 

 ders and refiners, the third the porters or those who 

 carry ofi* the mineral. In general they are a bold, 

 enterprising and prodigal class of men. Familiarized 

 to the sight of the precious metals, they learn to dis- 

 regard them, and attach but little value to money. 



