SANTIAGO, 



55 



encourage enterprise and capital. The merest 

 chance will often lead to the discovery of a 

 silver-mine. A short time ago a peasant was 

 driving an ass across the country^ and observed 

 the animal strike its foot against a large stone. 

 On approaching the spot the stone was a mass 

 of silver protruding above the earth. At the 

 bottom of the mine of Santa Rosa^ near Iquique 

 in Peru, a fossil marine shell was discovered 

 600 feet below the surface, which was filled 

 entirely with silver ore. 



When the knowledge of mining, in South 

 America, increases, means will probably be 

 found of working the ore at less expense ; but 

 I believe it is still a common remark, that, if a 

 man find a copper-mine he is sure to gain ; if a 

 silver-mine he may gain, but if a gold-mine, he 

 is sure to lose. 



A sort of coal is used in the bay of Talca- 



