MINERALOGY. 



63 



Pasco, distant two leagues from the mountain of Lauri-Cocha. 

 Finally, in 1785, the royal chest which had been established 

 at Atun- Jauja, was united to that of Pasco. 



With what success the mines of Lauri-Cocha were wrought, 

 after the abundant stores of wealth they yielded in the first 

 instance, has not been ascertained ; but it is certain, that this 

 mineral territory was at length exposed to the calamity which 

 has attended almost all the others : the greater part of the 

 mines were overflowed, and rendered unserviceable. 



Don Martin De Retuerto, proprietor of the mine particu- 

 larly denominated Lauri-Cocha, caused an aperture to be 

 made at the foot of the mountain, and was the first to ascer- 

 tain the true diredlion of the metallic veins. He was extremely 

 successful at the commencement ; but was soon under the ne- 

 cessity of abandoning his enterprize. The irruption of the 

 waters prevented almost entirely the working of the mine. 

 The same fatality attended several other miners who engaged 

 in the same task. 



Colonel Don Joseph De Maiz y Areas, having purchased, 

 in the year 1758, of the heirs of Retuerto, the above-mentioned 

 mine of Lauri-Cocha, had another opening made near the same 

 spot. To efFedl this was the work of two years ; and it an- 

 swered the intention so well, that this mine alone afforded 

 annually from sixty to eighty thousand marks of silver. By 

 the help of engines, the successive opposition of other inunda- 

 tions was overcome, until the decease of this very intelligent 

 miner, when, through the negle6l of his executors, the 

 mine was, as well as those adjacent to it, completely filled 

 with water. 



As the mines of Santa Rosa and Caya were in the same 



state, 



