MINES OF CHILI. 



45 



only protect him, for a time, from the heat, but 

 shield him from the universal glare, which is 

 even more intolerable. 



On reaching the ship, we found Mr Foster's 

 survey just completed, and, at sunset, we weigh- 

 ed, and steered along the coast with a gentle 

 breeze from the southward. 



The following account of the mining system in 

 Chili is principally derived from a gentleman long 

 resident in the heart of that particular district ; 

 and as we had many other sources of information 

 to fill up and check his statement, its accuracy 

 may, I think, be depended upon. 



Copper, silver, and gold, are produced from 

 the mines in the district we had just visited ; the 

 least valuable of these metals being the staple 

 commodity of the country. There are many 

 hundreds of copper mines wrought in Chili ; but 

 not more than one of gold for fifty of copper ; 

 and probably not above one of silver for fifteen of 

 copper. 



The average produce of copper in one year has 

 lately risen to more than sixty thousand quintals 

 of one hundred Spanish pounds each. The great- 



