Ch. XII. SOUTH AMERICA. 227 



bitants them in building houfes, and other 



works. The quickfilver mines wrought here, fup- 

 ply with that neceffary mineral, all the filver mines 

 of Peru ; and notwithftanding the prodigious quan- 

 tities already extra6led, no diminution is perceived. 

 Some attribute the difcovery of thefe mines to a 

 Portuguefe, called Enrique Garces, in the year 1^66^ 

 who accidentally met an Indian with fome pieces of 

 cinnaber, called by the Indians, Llimpi, and ufed in 

 painting their faces. But others, among whom arc 

 Acofta, Laett, and Efcalona, fay that the mines of 

 Guanca Belica, were difcovered by a Navincopa, or 

 Indian, and fervant to Amador Cabrera and that 

 before the year 1564, Pedro Contreras and Henrique 

 Garces had difcovered another mine of the fame 

 kind at Patas. But however it be, the mines of 

 Guanca Belica are the only ones now worked ; and 

 the ufe of quickfilver for aggregating the particles 

 of filver began in the year 1571, under the direc- 

 tion of Petro Fernandes Velafco. The miines of 

 Guanca Belica immediately on the difcovery were 

 claimed in the king's name, and alternately govern- 

 ed by one of the members of the audienza of Lima, 

 with the title of fuperintendant, whofe office expired 

 at the end of five years, till in the year 1735, when 

 Philip V. appointed a particular governor of thefe 

 mines, with the fame title of fuperintendant, but 

 thoroughly acquainted with the nature of extrading 

 this mineral, having been employed in thofe of the 

 fame nature in Spain and by his oeconomy the mines 

 are worked with lefs charge, and will not be fo foon 

 exhaufted. Part of the quickfilver found here, is 

 fold on the fpot to miners, and the remainder fent 

 to all the royal offices of the kingdom of Peru, for 

 the more commodious fupply of thofe whofe mines 

 are at a great diftance. 

 yi. The jurifdiftion of Angaraes, depends on 



the 



