MINING IN SOUTH AMERICA. ^79 



4. The desolate and unprotected plains between, 

 the mines and the port at which their produce 

 would be shipped ; the distance being, upon an 

 average, more than a thousand miles of land-car- 

 riage. 



5, The poverty of the lodes, when compared 

 with those of Mexico, Peru, or Potosi. 



MOEAL. 



The want of population — its effects. The gene- 

 ral want of education, and consequently the narrow 

 and interested views of the natives. — The richer 

 class of people in the provinces unaccustomed to 

 business. — The poorer class unwilling to work. — 

 Both perfectly destitute of the idea of a contract, 

 of punctuality, or of the value of time. — Among a 

 few people the impossibility of obtaining open com- 

 petition, or of preventing the monopoly of every 

 article required, or the combination which would 

 raise its price ad libitum." The wild, plundering 

 habits of the Gauchos — the ready absolution of the 

 priests — the insufficiency of the laws. 



The want of experience, &c. in the Commis^ 



