342 MINES. 



Ibague at eight o'clock to breakfet, at the 

 house of Filipe Losano, to whom 1 had let- 

 ters of introduction. I fell into conversa- 

 tion with my host, who mentioned various 

 mines of gold, silver, and vermilion, in the 

 surrounding districts, and told me of three 

 in the immediate vicinity, which had not 

 been worked for the last twelve years ; and 

 on expressing my desire to visit them, he 

 kindly procured me two men as guides, who, 

 having provided themselves with a neces- 

 sary number of candles for our purpose, 

 conducted me to the nearest mine, which 

 was in a mountain, about half a mile from 

 the town. This mountain was excessively 

 steep, and the thermometer being at 80% the 

 fatigue and toil of ascending was very great. 

 Having arrived on the level of the mine, we 

 commenced cutting our way to the mouth 

 through bushes and underwood, which ob- 

 structed our path. On reaching the spot, 

 we lighted our candles and entered; but 



