Ch.XIV. south AMERICA. i6t 



known from, undoubted figns, that thefe mines were 

 worked in the time of the Yncas. Here are alfb mines 

 of talc, called jafpas blancos de Verenguela. It is of a 

 beautiful white, and, on account of its tranfparency is 

 tranfported to different parts of Peru, for making 

 panes of windows, both in churches and houfes as 

 the {tone called Tecali ferves for the fame ufes in 

 New Spain. In thefe mountains are alfo a great num- 

 ber of mines of gems^ particularly one of emeralds^ 

 well known in Europe, but for fome lat«nt reafons 

 not worked i together with quarries of different 

 fpecies of marble. In this province is the famous 

 filver mine called Verenguela and likewife the 

 mountains of Santa Juana, Tampaya, and others, 

 well known for the immenfe treafures extracted from 

 them. 



IV. Adjacent to the territories of the jurifdidlion 

 of la Paz, and to the north of that city is the province 

 of Laricaxas, which extends ii8 leagues from eaft to 

 wefl, and about thirty frorn north to fouth. The 

 temperature of the air is different in different parts, 

 and fome of its produds are the fame with thofe of 

 Carabaya, by which it is terminated to the northward. 

 This whole province abounds in gold mines, whofe 

 metal is of fo fine a quality, that its flandard is 

 twenty-three carads, and three grains. In this pro- 

 vince is the celebrated mountain of Sunchuli, in which, 

 about fifty years iince was difcovered, a gold mine 

 remarkably rich, and of the ftandard above-menti- 

 oned ; but when in its highefl profperity, it was un- 

 fortunately overflowed ; and notwithftanding prodi- 

 gious funis were expended in endeavours to drain it, 

 all the labour and cxpence, from the works being in** 

 judicioufly conduced, were thrown away. 



V, The jurifdidion of Chucuito begins about 

 twenty leagues weft of Paz, and fome part of it bor- 

 dering on the lake of Titi-caca, that colledion of 

 waters is alfo called the lake of Chucuko. The extent 



Vol. II. M of 



