V 



SALDANEA. 



317 



particular spots near the adjacent plains, 

 and the hills about Coyama I then return- 

 ed to my friend Don Caycedo; and after 

 dinner we fell into conversation on all kinds 

 of subjects, relative to the revenues, political 

 economy, &c., of the republic ; and I found 

 my host a very sensible, liberal-minded man. 

 He told me that virgin silver, and very rich 

 copper, had been found, as well as gold, 

 in the neighbouring district. This led us to 

 the subject of the prohibition of exporting 

 gold in dust, silver in bars, and platina in 

 any shape ; when he informed me of his in- 

 tention of proposing a bill to the Congress, 

 to permit the exportation of these metals, 

 subject to a certain duty; which would be 

 infinitely more productive to the government 

 than the means at present adopted, and 

 would entirely do away with the smuggling, 

 which is carried on to a great extent. He 

 also mentioned to me, that, in consequence 

 of the great scarcity of water in this and 



