MINEEALOGY. 67 



casualty, in the way of Navincopa, a domestic belonging to 

 Amador Cabrera. It is certain that in the month of Sep- 

 tember, 1570, Philip II. of Spain, purchased this mine of 

 the above-mentioned Amador Cabrera, and that the different 

 processes employed in working it, were immediately under- 

 taken by the superintendant, Don Pedro De Los Rios. The 

 first governor was Don Francisco De Angulo, during whose 

 administration, which lasted five years, from 1 571 to 1576, 

 upwards of nine thousand quintals of mercury were extra6ted*. 

 The mine of Huancavelica has continued to be the exclusive 

 property of the crown. i 

 In the year 1735, the political system of its government 

 was changed. It had before been confided to one of the mem- 

 bers of the Royal Audience of Lima ; but was at length in- 

 vested in a particular governor, who had nothing in common 

 with his predecessors, except the title of superintendant. 

 About the middle of the year 1790, the superintendency was 

 taken from the then governor, and united to the titles and do- 

 mination of the viceroyalty of Lima. From the epoch of the 

 discovery of this very valuable mine, up to the date of 1792, 

 there were sixty-six governors, comprehending Don Manuel 

 Ruiz De Castilla, who then held that employment. : 

 • In the course of the two hundred and nineteen years, from 

 the earliest fusion of the ores contained in this mine, to the 

 close of the year 1789, one million forty thousand four hun- 



* The greatest quantity of mercury extracted in a given space of time, was under 

 ttie government of Don Martin De Valanzequi. In the interval of two years, from 

 1646 to 1648, the mine yielded between seventeen and eighteen thousand quintals 

 of that metal. 



K 2 dred 



