Ch.X. south AMERICA. 455 



of Zicchos. This alfo was opened, but difcontinned 

 through the inftability of the undertaker, and the want 

 of proper affiftance. 



In the other jurirdi<5lion, as well as in that of La- 

 tacunga, are all the indications of rich mines, though 

 the number of them difcovered is much lefs. The 

 mountain of Pichincha is, by the inhabitants of 

 Qiiito, thought to contain immenfe treafures : and the 

 grains of gold, found in the fands of the waters which 

 iflue from it, greatly countenance the opinion ; though 

 there is not the lealt veftige all over the mountain, 

 that formerly any mine was difcovered or worked 

 there. But the latter is no great obje(5lion : as the 

 difruptions caufed by florms, or procefs of time, are 

 fuch as fometimes might entirely choak them up, and 

 cover them fo as to leave no traces of their exiflence ; 

 and a fuitable diligence and care have not been ufed 

 for the difcovery of any. Befides this mountain, its 

 whole Cordillera, together with the eaftern chain of 

 Guamani, and many other parts, equally abound with 

 the like appearances of rich mines. 



In the diftrids of Otabalo, and the town of San 

 Miguel de Ibarra, in the territories' of the village of 

 Cayambe, along the fides and eminences of the vaft 

 m_ountain Cayamburo, are ftill remaining fome mo- 

 numents, in confirmation of the tradition, that, be- 

 fore the conquefl, mines were worked there, which 

 yielded a vaft quantity of metal. Among feveral 

 mountains near the village of Mira, famed for their 

 ancient riches, is one called Pachon, from which an 

 inhabitant of that village is certainly known to have 

 collected, a few years ago, a vaft fortune. None 

 of thefe are worked ; a particular nothing flrange 

 to him who fees how the mines lately difcovered 

 are negleded, though their quality is fufficien.tly 

 known. 



G g 4 The 



