6 



GENERAL IDEA OF PERU. 



(1790) in the royal mint of Linia ; and 5,206,906 piastres*, 

 in both materials, were coined there -(-. 



From the mines of Gualgayoc'|, and from that of Pasco §, 

 about the one half of the silver which is annually smelted, 

 coined, and wrought, is extra6ted. The mine of Guantajaya|| 

 is abundant in ores and rich metallic veins, but does not yield 

 in proportion, in consequence of the dearness of every neces- 

 sary, as well for working as for convenience and subsistence. 

 On account also of its distance from the capital, the benefits 

 which would otherwise arise from it are lost : the ores of thirty 

 marks the caxon ^, do not pay themselves ; and the same may 

 be said of the produ6ls of the smaller and more superficial 

 veins, which occasionally present themselves, and in which 

 the silver is chiselled out. It is greatly to be hoped that the 

 plan of transporting the produce of this mine to Calloa may be 

 adopted, since such an expedient would not only cause the 



* Dollars. 



t In the former year, 1789, 3,570,000 piastres in silver, and 766,768 in gold, 

 were coined. 



X These mines are in the intendency of Truxillo, one hundred and seventy-eight 

 leagues distant from Lima, and from Truxillo sixty-eight. 



§ Otherwise called the metaUic mountain of Lauricocha. It is situated at the 

 northern extremity of the plains of Bombon, and is distant from Lima forty-five 

 leagues, and from Tarma twenty-two. 



II This mine, which, in opposition to the laws Nature generally observes, is 

 situated in a very hot and sandy soil, is comprehended in the province of Tarapaca, 

 in the intendency of Arequipa. It is distant from that intendency eighty leagues, from 

 Lima three hundred, and from the port of Iquique nearly two leagues. 



^ The caxon contains 6,250 pounds. 



mine 



