464 A VOYAGE TO Book VI. 



a6lly refledl objeds. The mirrors made of this (lone 

 were of different kinds, fome plainj fom.e concave, 

 and others convex. I have feen them of all kinds : 

 and from the delicacy of the workmanfhip one would 

 have thought thefe people had been furnifhed with 

 all kinds of inftruments, and completely fkilled in 

 opticks. Some quarries of this flone are likewife met 

 with but they are entirely negleded, though its 

 tranfparency, colour, and hardnefs, befides its having 

 no flaws or veins, render it very beautiful. 



The copper axes of the Indians differ very little 

 in their fhape from ours : and it appears that thefe 

 were the inflruments with which they performed 

 mod of their works ; for if not the only, they are 

 the moft common edge-tools found among them ; 

 and the whole apparent difference betwixt thofe they 

 ufe, confifiis only in fize and fhape : for though they 

 all refemble an ax, the edge in fome is more circular 

 than in others. Some have a concave edge, others 

 a point on the oppofite fide, and a fluted handle. 

 Thefe inflruments were not all of copper, fome hav- 

 ing been found of gallinazo, and of another ftone 

 fomething refembling the flint, but lefs hard and pure. 

 Of this flone, and that of the gallinazo, are feveral 

 points fuppofed to have been heads of fpears, as thefe 

 were their two chief inflruments, or weapons : for had 

 they ufed any other, fome would doubtlefs have been 

 found among the infinite number of guacas which 

 have been opened. 



The guaqueros, or drinking-velTels, are of a very 

 fine black earth ; but the place where they were made 

 is utterly unknown. They are round, and with a 

 handle in the middle, the mouth on one fide, and on 

 the other the head of an Indian, whofe features are fo 

 naturally exprelTed, that very few of oxir workmen 

 could equal it. Others, though of the fame form, 

 are of a red earth. Befides which there are found 



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