242 EMERALD MINES. 



ever were introduced to a very intelli- 

 gent friar who had lately seen them ; who 

 informed us, that formerly, in the time of 

 the Spaniards, they were most productive 

 and easily wrought, some being on the 

 surface, others worked by horizontal ex- 

 cavations ; the chief mine worked in the 

 latter manner had caught fire from not 

 being properly ventilated, and continued 

 burning for two years. This, together 

 with the commencing of the revolution, 

 put an end to the work of the mines. 

 Small emeralds are so plentiful, that it is 

 a common thing to purchase poultry merely 

 to kill them in search of emeralds, which 

 they are fond of; several are often found 

 in the entrails of a large fowl, and some- 

 times in a very pure and perfect state, 

 though most generally flawed and very 

 small, consequently of no intrinsic value, 

 and only kept as curiosities. The very fa- 

 vourable account we received, determined 



