424 



NORTHERN CHILE. 



May, 1835. 



merly occupied by an arm of the sea, but now by a fresh-water 

 river. In every case it must be remembered, that the suc- 

 cessive cliffs do not mark so many distinct elevations, but 

 on the contrary, periods of comparative repose during the 

 gradual and perhaps scarcely sensible rise of the land. In 

 the valley of Guasco we have the record of seven such nights 

 of rest, in the action of the subterranean powers. 



May 21st. — I set out in company with Don Jose 

 Edwards to the silver-mine of Arqueros, and thence up the 

 valley of Elque or Coquimbo. Passing through a mountain- 

 ous country, we reached by nightfall the mines belonging to 

 Mr. Edwards. I enjoyed my night^s rest here from a cause 

 which will not be fully understood in England, namely, the 

 absence of fleas ! The rooms in Coquimbo swarm with them ; 

 but they will not live at the elevation of three or four thou- 

 sand feet, ^ven if brought there, as is constantly occurring at 

 these mines. It can scarcely be the trifling diminution of 

 temperature, but some other cause which is here destructive 

 to these troublesome insects. I spent the greater part of the 

 ensuing day in examining the mines. The veins occur 

 abundantly scattered over several miles of hilly country ; yet 

 it is only a few years since that they were discovered by a 

 wood-cutter. The mines are now in a bad state, though they 

 formerly yielded about 2000 pounds in weight of silver a year. 

 It has been said a person with a copper-mine will gain ; 

 with silver he may gain; but with gold he is sure to lose.^^ 

 This is not true : all the large Chilian fortunes have been 

 made by mines of the more precious metals. A short time 

 since an English physician returned to England from Copiapo, 

 taking with him the profits of one share in a silver-mine, 

 which amounted to about 24,000 pounds sterling. No 

 doubt a copper-mine with care is a sure game, whereas the 

 other is gambling, or rather taking a ticket in a lottery. 



The owners lose great quantities of rich ores ; for no precau- 

 tions can prevent robbery. I heard of a man laying a bet with 

 'another that one of his men should rob him before his face. 

 The ore when brought out of the mine is broken into pieces. 



