SILVER MINE. 



31 



great workings ; but in searching for it he mis- 

 took his way, and no lake was found to repay our 

 labour. As he was still confident, however, and 

 declared the next trial would be more successful, 

 we consented to renew the search. After ascend- 

 ing for about a hundred and fifty paces, we went 

 dowii a second shaft, the inclination of which was 

 so great, as to make the adventure rather hazard- 

 ous ; and at length, after innumerable windings 

 and turnings, when nearly exhausted with the 

 heat, which was excessive, we reached a little 

 caye, or nook, excavated from the solid rock, with 

 the lake in the middle. We tasted the water, 

 which was intensely salt and acrid, but had un- 

 fortunately provided no means of carrying away 

 any of it ; but a gentleman at Copiapd, who said 

 he had examined it, told us it contained anti- 

 mony, sulphur, arsenic, and soda, in solution, 

 besides a little copper and silver. I cannot pre- 

 tend to answer for the accuracy of this analysis. 

 The margin of the lake was fringed with crystals 

 of salt ; the roof and sides also of the cave spark- 

 led with spangles sublimed from the liquid. Every 

 crevice and cavity in the rock, of which there were 



