APPENDIX. ,85 
The latitude of the mine I found, by obfervation, to be t 
2 7 0 28' S. 
There is not one fixed place of habitation throughout the 
whole country, owing to a fcarcity of running water. That 
which is drunk by the honey-gatherers, who refide there in 
fmall bodies the greateft part of the year, collecting honey in 
the woods, is rain water, as I have already obferved. Thefe, 
and a few roving tribes of barbarous Indians, who referable 
the Tartars in their way of life, and come hither, at a certain 
feafon of the year, from the borders of the river Vermejo, in queft 
of a wild root, which they call Koruu, and which they conftantly 
chew, as a remedy againft the peftilential air of their native 
country, and alfo as a prefervative againft the bite of poi- 
fonous reptiles, are the only people ever feen in thole pleafant 
and extenfive plains. 
I arrived the 15th of February at the place called Otumpa, 
where the mafs was found almoft buried in pure clay and 
afhes. 
The exterior appearance of it was that of perfectly compa& 
iron ; but upon cutting off pieces of it, I found the internal 
part full of cavities, as if the whole had been formerly in a 
liquid ftate. I was confirmed in this idea, by obferving on 
the furface of it the impreftions as of human feet and hands 
of a large fize, as well as of the feet of large birds, which 
are common in this country. Though thefe impreftions feem 
very perfeCt, yet I am perfuaded that they are either a lufus 
jjatura^^ or that impreftions of this nature were previoufly 
upon the ground, and that the liquid mafs of iron falling upon it 
received them. It refembled nothing fo much as a mafs of dough, 
which, having been ftamped with impreftions of hands and feet, 
and marked with a finger, was afterwards converted into iron. 
Vol. LXXVIII. B b I began 
