Ch. XL SOUTH AMERICA. 4^3 



The manner of opening the guacas is, to cut the 

 lower part at right angles, the vertical and horizontal 

 line meeting in the centre, where the corpfe and its 

 furniture are found. 



The ftone mirrors taken out of the guacas are 

 of two forts 5 one of the ynca-ftone, and the other 

 of the gallinazo-ftone : the former is not tranfparent, 

 of a lead colour, but foft; they are generally of a 

 circular form, and one of the furfaces flat, with all 

 the fmoothnefs of a cryftal looking-glafs ; the other 

 oval and fomething fpherical, and the polifh not fo 

 fine. They are of various fizes, but generally of 

 three or four inches diameter, though I faw one of a 

 foot and a half; its principal furface was concave, 

 and greatly enlarged obje6bs ; nor could its polifh be 

 exceeded by the bell workmen among us. The 

 great fault of this flone is, its having feveral veins 

 and flaws, which, befides the difadvantage to the 

 furface of the mirror, render it liable to be broken 

 by any little accident. Many are inclined to think 

 that it is not natural, but artificial. There are, ic 

 muft indeed be owned, fome appearances of this, but 

 not fufficient for convidion. Among the breaches 

 in this country, fome quarries of them are found; and, 

 quantities continue to be taken out, though no longer 

 worked for the ufe the Indians made of them. This 

 does not, however, abfolutely contradid the fufion of 

 them, in order to heighten their quality, or cad them 

 into a regular form. 



The gallinazo-ftone is extremely hard, but as 

 brittle as flint : it is fo called from its black colour, 

 in allufion to the colour of the bird of that name ; 

 and is in fome meafure diaphanous. This the In- 

 dians worked equally on both fldes ; and reduced it 

 into a circular figure. On the upper part, they dril- 

 led a hole for a ftring to hang it by ; the furfaces 

 were as fmooth as thofe of the former, and very ex- 



adly 



