[ 5^8 1 
’ “ This Stone has certain Veins, or hair-like Ap- 
“ pearances, on its Surface ; whereby it is render’d 
*' lefs fit for a Speculum , and is apt to break in 
<c thefe Veins in receiving any Blow. Many are 
<c pcrfuaded, or at leaft fufpett, that the Matter of 
“ thefe is a cafi Compofition ; and although there arc 
“ fome Appearances of this being fo, they are not fuffi- 
“ ciently convincing. In this Country there are Gul- 
<£ lies(jS//^rtf^r)wheretheMineralofthem is found 
“ rough, and from whence fome are always taken ; 
<c but thefe are not now wrought for thole Purpofcs 
“ for which heretofore they were employ’d by he 
“ Indians : But this is no Reafon but that fome 
<{ of them may have been cafi, as with the fame 
“ Material taken out of the Mine, they may have 
“ been made artificially, and thereby have receiv’d a 
“ greater Degree of Perfe&ion, as well in their Qua- 
“ lity as in their Figure.” He fays further, £t that, 
<l although at prefent, thefe, as well as fevcral other 
“ things found there are but of fmall Value, never- 
“ thelefs they are extremely curious, and worthy 
“ to be efteem’d, as well for their great Antiquity, 
“ as for their being the Performances ot thofe bar- 
<c barous People.” 
Some of thefe Tie dr as de Inga I now take the 
Liberty of laying before the Society , both in their 
rough and in their polilh’d State. They were 
brought hither with feveral other Curiofities from 
America , by that excellent Perfon, and my much- 
lamented Friend, Don Tedro Maldonado , and were 
prefented by him to our moll worthy Trefident , 
who was pleafed to put them into my Hands. They 
are doubtlefs of a metalline Subftance, and have, in 
my 
