Ch.XIIL south AMERICA. 149 



ignorance of the workmen, a ftill greater quantity ; 

 but the immenfe confumption of quickfilver in the 

 mines of this mountain, and the riches extracted 

 from it, will beft appear from the following ac- 

 counts, of two authors, who were perfedly mafters 

 of the fubjedt. The firft is that of the Rev. Alon- 

 20 Barba, parifli prieft in the imperial town of 

 Potofi, who, in a piece on metals publiflied in the 

 year 1637, fays, that from the year 1574, when 

 mercury was firft ufed here in extracting the filver, 

 the royal office of Potofi has received above 

 204700 quintals of mercury, exclufive of v/hat had 

 been clandeftinely bought by private perfons, and 

 which amounted to no fmall quantity. And as this 

 ^ was confumed in the fpace of fixty-three years, the an- 

 nual amount is about 3249 quintails. The fecond 

 account is given us by don Gafper de Efcalona, who 

 in his Gozophilacio PerubicOj declares, from very 

 good authority, that before the year 1638, it appear- 

 ed by the public accounts, that the produce of the 

 filver amounted to 39561900* dollars, which in 

 ninety three years, the time it had then been difco- 

 vered, amounted to 41255043 dollars per annum. 

 Hence an idea may be formed of the vaft commerce, 

 which has for many years been carried on in this town, 

 and which is ftill like to continue for a long time : 

 fuch enormous fums being annually bartered for - 

 goods fent hither, its whole trade confifting in filver 

 extraCled from this mountain ; and if fome diminution 

 has been perceived in its produce, it is ftill very con- 

 fiderable. 



At a fmall diftance from Potofi are the hot. medi- 

 cinal baths called Don Diego, whither, as in other 

 countries, fome refort for health, and others for 

 diverfion. 



The jurifdidlion of Tomina, begins about eighteen 

 leagues fouth-eaft from the city of Plata, borders eaft- 

 ward on a nation of wild Indians called Chiriguanos. 



L 3 The 



