Ch.V. south AMERICA. 131 



into the water, with the like weapon, and hallen down 

 to their defence : but too often all their dexterity and 

 precaution is not fufficient to proted: th'e diver from 

 being devoured by thefe fifh, or lofing one of his legs 

 or arms by their bite. Several ineffed:ual Ichemes 

 have been pradtifed, to prevent fuch melancholy ac- 

 cidents. 



The pearls of thefe fifheries are generally of a good 

 water, and fome very remarkable, both in their fliape 

 and fize but as there is a difference in both thefe pro- 

 perties, fo there is alfo a difference in their water and 

 colour ; fom.e being highly valuable, and others as re- 

 markably defe6live. Some of thefe pearls, though in- 

 deed but few, are fent to Europe, the greateft part 

 being carried to Lima where the demanci for them is 

 very great, being not only univerfally worn there by all 

 perfons or rank, but alfo fent from thence into the in- 

 land parts of Peru. 



Besides thefe pearls, the kingdom of Terra Firma 

 was formerly equally remarkable for the fine gold pro- 

 duced by the mines in its territories ; and which con- 

 iequently proved a very confiderable addition to its 

 riches. Part of thefe mines were in the province of 

 Veraguas^ others in that of Panama ; but moft, alfo 

 the richcfl, and whofe metal was of the fineft quality, 

 were in the province of Darien ; and, on that account, 

 the conflant objedls of the miners. But the Indians 

 revoking, and making themfelves mailers of the whole 

 province, there was a neceflity for abandoning thefe 

 mines, by which means the greateft part of them were 

 loft ; a few only remaining on the frontiers, which 

 ftill yield a fmall quantity of gold. Their produce 

 might indeed be increafed, did not the fear of the 

 fickle nature of the Indians, and the fmall confidence 

 that can be placed on their apparent friendihip, deter 

 the mafters of the mines from taking proper meafuies 

 for improving them. 



K 2 Though 



