148 A VOYAGE TO Book VIL 



Om a report of thefe important difcoveries peo- 

 ple from all parts retired to Potofi, particularly from 

 the city of Plata, which is fituated about twenty five 

 leagues from the mountains-, fo that at prefent, 

 befidcs its extraordinary riches, having among its 

 inhabitants many noble families, particularly thofe 

 concerned in the mines, the circuit of the town is 

 near two leagues. The air of the mountain being 

 extremely cold and dry,* renders the adjacent coun- 

 try remarkably barren, producing neither grain, 

 fruits, herbs, or other efculents. The town, how- 

 ever, is fo plentifully provided as to enjoy an abun- 

 dance of every kind ; and the trade for provifions 

 is greater here than in any other place, that of Lima 

 alone excepted. Nor will this appear at all ftrange 

 if the great number of people employed in the mines 

 be coniidered. Some provinces fend the beft of 

 their grain and fruits •, others their cattle ; others 

 their manufadures ; and thofe who trade in Euro- 

 pean goods refort to Potofi, as to a market where 

 there is a great demand, and no want of filver to 

 give in exchange. 



Besides this commerce, here are a fet of perfons 

 called Aviadores, who find their account in ad- 

 vancing to the mailers of the mines coined filver to 

 pay their necefifary expences, receiving in exchange 

 filver in ingots and pinnas. Another article of great 

 confequence, is the trade of quickfilver for the ufe 

 of thefe mines ; but this branch the crown has re~ 

 fervcd to itfelf. The vaft confumption of this mi- 

 neral may in fome meafure be conceived by the 

 great quantity of filver produced by thefe mines ; 

 for before the invention of extracting the filver with 

 lefs mercury, a mark of that mineral was confumed 

 in obtaining a mark of fine filver ; and often by the 



* The extremeiJ: cold in this part feldom freezes the waters 

 thicker thaa an half crown. 



2 



ignorance 



