OOLD AND SILVER MINES. 
tlie opening of the first 
the discovery of the rich mines of Poto.si ; 
conquest of Chili was com- 
mines opened in New Spain. At the 
^ fourth period, the mines of Potosi 
V®rs([ exhausted ; but those of Lauricocha were 
h^l's jq the produce of New Spain rose froiqi two 
\ : millions of dollars annually. The fifth 
'\!'’^llt fs d' discovery of gold in Brazil ; and 
U^e '^'■‘ttguislied by the prodigious increase of the 
Spain, wdiile those of every otlier part of 
it^ ^ *'^® exception of tire Brazils, have been 
of Brazil ai'e very productive. Those 
\ ^siro .^'"® ‘•^’starit about .seventy-five leagues from 
staple and principal outlet of the 
Slv for I territory. They yield to die king, 
'%bt of fifths, at least one hundred and 
Nil,^®arly*J^'''®'gbing twenty-five pounds each] of gold. 
S X gjP^^^^Hce may, therefore, be estimated at up 
\ the thousand pounds sterlin 
207 
mines. The 
and 
J "*jle ^ distant mines at about one thn-d the 
from diem cannot be can-led to Rio 
in "’■being first brought to the smelting houses 
,■ district, where the right of the crown 
i* 1, ’ 'vitjj , b^t belongs to private persons is remitted 
'1 ^‘iii ^ttns ^''®'gbt, number, and an ira]iression of 
On p T^® S°’tl is then assayed, and its standard 
|lt||y ■ ■ tlieij. these bars are carried to 
*" b;iif_j''®bte i.s paid to the posses.sor in coin, com- 
' ®"®b wordi eight Spanish dollars. 
Kina- 
gains 
.di thp ' i!^’®^® half-doubloons the 
Ij --0-- 
-vi'i'll'" ’be most beautiful in existence, anci 
I'r ®'^ery convenience for working with the 
'‘v'*'nr^ ’ifne n ’be gold arrives from the mines at 
d'!)i/ to g the fleets arrive from Portugal, it i.s 
At ’b® operations of the mint, and 
tvi '^'CA, fp ^ ^i’b surprising quickness. 
■'®b ij ® kingdom of Mozambic abounds In 
"’ashed down by the rivers, and formi a 
N a 
15^^^ "y^and right of coinage.. The niiiit of 
