Chap. IV. PKETENDED GOLD MINES. 59 
assumes gradually a wild and romantic character. Narrow- 
gorges began, rapidly descending towards the coast. Little 
streams of transparent water rush over coloured pebbles, 
and hastening from cascade to cascade, enter a belt of 
forest separating the open region of the higher country 
from the sea-shore. We passed several deserted indigo 
estates, where extensive buildings were left to decay in the 
wilderness. The rocks of this region seemed to belong to 
a metamorphic tertiary formation, somewhat of a chloritic 
and schisteous character. u Aqui estd la minal " — here is 
the mine ! — cried the guide, pointing to the bank of a 
brook. The rock, of the character just described, con- 
tained numerous little crystals of iron pyrites. Of course, 
it is not impossible that some particles of gold may accom- 
pany the pyrites, but the priest who was the owner of the 
locality and designated it as a gold mine, had no other 
reasons for his extravagant opinion than the yellow colour 
and metallic appearance of the pyrites. 
When my guide and the boys who had followed me saw 
me break off a few samples of the rock and put them in 
my pocket, they began most eagerly to do the same. To 
tell them that the yellow specks in the rock were not gold 
would have been absolutely fruitless. The poor horses 
were chiefly to be pitied, as, besides their riders, they had 
to bear their newly acquired wealth. On our way home 
the guide came up to my side asking me in a confidential 
manner how many pesos the pound of gold was worth. 
In the village the excitement grew so high, that I felt 
induced to throw away the samples I had collected. This 
again the others imitated. A crowd of little boys ran 
after the stones, throwing them farther and farther off in a 
spiteful manner, and I am confident the village has been 
purged of the last particle of the delusive yellow substance. 
