76 



MINERALOGY. 



made to circulate through every part of the body ? Of what 

 import is it that a miner has money in his hand, if those be- 

 longing to the labouring class flee from his possessions, or 

 cannot be persuaded to work on them ? Under similar circum- 

 stances, I think I see a skilful and valorous general, an Epa- 

 minondas, or a Marlborough, provided with ammunition, and 

 entrenched in an advantageous position, but without soldiers. 

 In such a case what is he to do ? He is unquestionably either 

 obliged to surrender to the enemy, or to betake himself to 

 flight. 



'* The negroes in Peru are absolutely unfit for the labours 

 of the mines. A residence alone in the rigid climates of the 

 mountainous territory, renders them incapable even of domes- 

 tic service. Their complexion undergoes a change, and be- 

 comes of an ashy paleness. The greater part of them fall 

 sick, and die. A thousand attempts have been made to em- 

 ploy negroes instead of Indians, in the gold mines even of 

 the provinces of La Paz, &c. where the temperature of the 

 air is warm and benign ; but the results have been invariably 

 fatal. Whether it be that the particles of antimony which 

 float in the mines operate more forcibly, and with a greater 

 malignance, on the temperament of Africans ; or that the 

 mechanical labour of ascending and descending, with heavy 

 loads, by the orifices of the mines, is more painful to them ; 

 or, lastly, that this employment is repugnant both to their 

 strength and inclination ; it is certain that this class of indi- 

 viduals cannot be resorted to, when it is intended to people a 

 mine. 



** The Spaniards are as little qualified for this task. I have 

 seen many robust young men, the greater part of them deser- 

 ters 



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