Cft») 
flmvd me certain Stones, gathered in great abundance in the 
Mines of Tafco, which they would have to be Amcthyfts , by 
■ which they (aid that certain Flemings had got much money. 
I was once defired to vifit a famous Cave there, fome Leagues 
from Mexico on the North- weft fide of the City beyond the 
Lake. This was faid to be guilded all over with a kind of leaf- 
gold, which had deluded many Spaniards with its promifing Co^ 
loun they never having been able to reduce it into a body,neither 
by Quick-filvernor Fufion 5 though the fame ran, that the 
zmknt Indians knewhow tomake ufe of it, and that the great 
Montezuma had borrowed thence a confiderable part of his 
Treafure. I rid thither one morning, taking with me one Indian 
on y for my guide, with a Tinder-box and a Candle, and fomeo- 
ther inftruments for my defign J found rt firuated fomewhat high, 
in a place very convenient for generation of Mettals but the 
mouth fo barricaded with ftones , that both my Indian and I 
had work enough to clear the paffage for my entrance, which 
being opend, I went in with my Candle lightned , but could 
not make the Indian follow me ? being afraid of Spirits and 
Hobgoblins. The - light of the Candle foon difcover'd to me 
on all fides^but efpecially above my head, a gliftering Canopy of 
the faid Mineral Leaves 5 at which I greedily ftretching forth 
my hand to reach fome parcels of it, there fell down prefently 
fo great a lump of clotted fand on my head and (houlders, that 
not only it put out my Candle, but myeyesalfo. And calling 
out with a loud voice to my Indian, who remaind at the moath 
of the Entry , there rebounded within thofe hollow Caverns 
fuch thundring and redoubled Eccho's., that I admired it, and 
the Indian imagining by thofe Tumultuous voices, that I was 
wreftling with fome infernal Ghofts, foon quitted his ftation;, 
and thereby left a free paffage for fome rayes of light to enter, 
and toferveme for a better Guide: My fight mean while be- 
ing not a little indangered by the corrofive acrimony of that 
Mineral duft. Having got my Candle. lighted again,I proceeded 
in the Cave, and heaped together a quantity of the mineral mixt 
with fand, andfcraped alfofrom the fuperficies of the Earth, 
a quantity of she fame kind of glittering leaves^ none of which 
exceed thebredth of a mans nail, and with the leaft handling 
they 
