The world surveyed, or The famous voyages & travailes of Vincent le Blanc, or White, of Marseilles ... containing a more exact description of several parts of the world, then hath hitherto been done by any other authour : the whole work enriched with many authentick histories / originally written in French ; and faithfully rendred into English by F.B., Gent.

CHAP. XII. The Mines of the New World.

AMongst other rarities and riches, the New World produces Mines of Gold and Silver, pearles and precious stones in di∣vers places, and chiefly in new Spain and Peru, which of all parts of the world, are most indulged with these advantages of na∣ture, though other parts of Asia and Africa have them in some abundance, and Europe likewise: but it appeares America had the principal and better portion, as well in these as other Dowries, as I have before mentioned.

In divers Islands they finde most wealthy Mines, as in Hispa∣niola,

Cuba and the rest upon the great gulph; again, in Cara∣bana, Veragna, Castile of gold, the country of Dorado, or Es••ra∣mador. In new Spain, there are these of silver Paxuco, Tasco, Zu∣pango, Guanaxato, Tumazlan, and other places in Acapulco.

At the gold and silver mines they coyne not, for want of Artists, but they cut pieces and gobbits, whereon they mark the price from one reall to eight, and so send them to Spain. The Mines belong to Merchants, who give so much to the King, some four, some five per centum. For want of men that can and will work, they get the mettle with much difficulty, being the toyle wherein the Spaniards have spent the lives of so many thousands, nay mil∣lions of miserable Indians.

The Mines are exceeding deep, where the workmen are much inconvenienced with water, and with damps that poyson them: few free-men will venture themselves, and the meanest slave hath his three crownes a day, who are often buried under the falls of the Mine, so as by this means by degrees, the generation of the Indi∣ans will be in short time totally consumed, who are constrained to undergo the work to get their livelyhood, how good Christians soever they are; and to speak uprightly, looking on the insatia∣ble avarice of the Spaniard, and the misery these Mines put them to, 'tis hard to judge who is the better, the slaves or the natives; for the slaves, for 800. or 1000. crowns may redeem themselves again; the extreme colds they meet with at the bottom, often strikes them dead, having little or no wine to relieve them: being a barren country, and the least glasse of wine at the price of a Re∣all, the smallest money they have amongst them, where they use not to stamp any Demy-Realls: if a man will live but with mode∣ration, his wine will stand him in a crown a day, which cuts their gaines the shorter: they pay dear for apparell, and principally for shooes, which rot with continually standing in water: They have the better of it, that work at the mouth of the Mine, for they hand the materials from one to another, and so have the be∣nefit to see the day light, whereas they below see not but by can∣dle-light: the depth is sometimes a thousand, or two thousand steps, which are fac'd with boards, or leather, or 'twere impossible to endure it: But again, 'tis much more inconvenient to one that is not used to it, by reason of the ayre, that makes one vomit in ex∣tremity, as I experienced going in one day, though I had travai∣led all the seas in the Universe, without the least motion. Now the silver Mine containes four several vaines, (or Veta••, as the Spaniard terms them) of different stone, as they are likewise dif∣ferent mettles, which run all from West to East, of not above two ells broad, and every vain is of several oares, as silver, brasse, tin, and iron. The largest Mine any Merchant may purchase, i•• of 80. ells, and no more; for which he hath the Kings Patent: there are some very small Mines, that are not of above 4. ells, but they

may sink down to the center if they can without incroaching on his neighbour: and if it happen that one makes the least incision beyond the direct line; mining upon another, he loses all he hath by confiscation.

In the Veta or vein of silver there are 78. Mines belonging to several Masters, except some one hath rented several, the tin Mine hath 24. Masters, every one his particular Mine, they go lesse and lesse, according to the quality of the mettle, as that of brasse is lesse, iron lesse then that. There is a gate, and goods locks to every Mine, they work by turnes, otherwise they could never endure it, the ayre is so strong and pernicious.

The silver Mine may be 150. ells deep, toylsome to the labou∣rers, especially the slaves, whose backs are loaded with silver, and their legges with iron. When a Mine yields five for a hundred, 'tis sufficient.

Great art is required to direct the Mine, sometimes they can neither find men nor Mine, being all for want of good direction, overwhelmed: wherefore Geometry is very necessary.

Silver generally lyes betwixt two rocks or mountains, the one very soft, the other as hard, and ever in the very middle. There are several sorts of it▪ the finest is called Casilla by the Spani∣ards, by the Indians Tacana, of Ambar colour, the other more black; and there is of other colours. I took all to be the same, perceiving nothing of silver in any stone, but the workmen know it perfectly. The oare they carry to little furnaces to be fin'd. When the stone is good, a hundred weight yields fifty pieces of eight, some not above thirty, nay five; but the richest of all, two hundred and above. There is not a Mine but hath belonging to it at least four thousand of these little furnaces, some five or six thousand, as that at Caratecas and Potossi. You would think you saw an Army of the bellows-blowers.

They have one Mine of Quick-silver, the heat whereof emits a most pernicious vapour that destroyes them all; makes them lose their teeth, and often their senses and understanding. Staying by it but a quarter of an hour, I was almost stupified to a stone, and the rest likewise that were with me, and had sped worse, if notice had not been given us. They get an earth they call Aza∣gue, which melted yields quick-silver, with which they use to pu∣rify the silver, and have it likewise from Spain, where there is a Mine near Sevill, for this at Cacatera will not suffice. The silver being fin'd and made money, they carry it upon sheep to the Sea-side, to ship it for Spain. The fining of it is troublesome, for of∣ten it must passe the fire seven or eight times.

They bring to Spain every year 12. or 13. millions more or lesse, whereof the fifth comes to the King, the rest to the Masters. There was one in few years got two hundred thousand crownes and more for his share; and when he dyed, had not a sheet to bury

him in. Of gold there is several sorts, the Popitas, or gob∣bets, or grains of gold, absolute gold, pure and neat, with∣out mixture, wanting neither furnace nor melting, ready for the stamp, being perfect by nature.

The massiest I ever saw was but of three pounds, yet 'twas presented to the Spanish King for twenty pounds.

Out of the Mounts of Libani in Cuba, there was one ta∣ken weighing 3310. weighs, each weigh worth fourteen or fifteen realls, which with infinite other riches was cast away at sea, going for Spain.

There is no silver comes pure from the Mine except some small bit which they call Capa di plata, pure silver.

Another sort of gold inserted in stone of the Mine, hard to be extracted; in breaking which stone, one discerns little lustre of gold, in some lesse, in some none at all.

The most delicate gold I ever saw, was a stone tranfixt as 'twere with prickles of gold, like a Hedge-hogge, re∣fulgent both within and without, this gold is the best and finest of all.

Another sort is in sees or powder, found in rivers, 'tis pure, and needs passe but one fire.

Such are found in the rivers of the Isles of Barlouento, and in the Pasaguey, &c.

The best gold is of Chila, Quito, and Granado.

The Mine of Carauana, in Peru, and Vuldiuia in Chila, which is the most perfect, is of twenty three Carats, and a halfe, as likewise at Varaquae.

Silver abounds in the rich mines of Potosi, and the Province of Charcas.

Next the Mine of Porto not farre off; likewise very rich, but of little benefit for want of workmen, by reason of the unsound ayre, and extreme cold, and water which drownes it, but in Potosi 'tis not so.

In the time of Jugas King of Peru, the Mine of Porto was open and wrought in, but not that of Potossi which was not disco∣vered, till the Spaniards time.

This is the richer, and yields most.

At the first they drew forth every week above two thou∣sand Weighs, or Castillans, whereof the gain came to forty thousand.

They fish for pearle in the South sea, neare Pa••a∣ma, and in the North sea in divers places, as in the Isle

Margareta towards the coast of Paria, where the Oysters feed upon Cubuca, and surname it so. There are very large and pre∣cious of them, I have seen one no bigger then a nut sold for three thousand duckets, there are of higher price. The Master of the South fishing, assured me he saw one as bigge as an indif∣ferent egge. There were three brought to Lisbone that paid a duty of sixteen thousand duckets to the King, as is to be seen in the Register of Contracts.

There is a sort they call stars, another demi-stars, others Cade∣netas Pedreria, &c. Allofat, or minute-pearls, and seed-pearls, and those of greater price, Quilates, or Carats. For this fish∣ing they choose the best winded men, and such as can contain longest under water. At Barlouento, Cula, and Hispaniola, I have seen them stay three quarters of an hour under water, and I was told they have had some have continued the whole houre. The General of Margaita keeps many of these men, who are slaves to him called Bouze, and are ready enough to pilfer the best and sell them, though 'tis forbidden upon life to buy them. The Master must use all fair means to get them out of their hands with something else, otherwise they will sooner return them to the sea then let him have them, if he give them not wine and good cheer.

The Incas make no use of pearls, unwilling out of benignity to expose their subjects to so much danger; but the Spaniards are nothing so scrupulous, they make their poor slaves dive ten or twelve fathom deep, to tear oysters from the rock: and to fortify their lungs for retention of breath, they keep them fasting, and hold them to a diet.

One was brought to the King, bigge as a Pidgeons egge, valued at 14000. duckets; by some at a hundred thousand, and 'twas called a Peregrina. The Negro that extracted it from the oyster had his liberty for it, and the Master was made Arguazilmaior of Parama.

For Emeraulds there is a Mine in Mexico, at new Granado in Peru, near Manta and Porto Vieio. I bought an excellent one of an Abissin Merchant, which surpassed in hardnesse and lustre, any of Mexico and Peru; Being in company with a friend, he de∣sired it of me, and I gave it him; but two dayes after, I percei∣ved it broken upon his finger, whereat he much admired, and I told him the reason: which was, he had had familiarity with a woman, but he was ashamed to acknowledge it, there being none but Idolaters, which is a great basenesse.

Another time being in an Indian Town, Inhabited by the Spaniards, I had an Emerauld, which a Lady, daughter to the Lalcayde or Governour of the place desired to buy; but on the morrow she sent for me, complaining I had sold her a broken

stone, which I disavowed; at last I asked her if her husband were in town, and answering no, I whispered to her smiling, she had then been kinde to some friend, whereat she stood amazed, and in the end acknowledged the truth, taking me to be skilled in divination. The like happened another time to another friend of mine, who acknowledged the like truth: for such is the ver∣tue of this stone if it be good and fine, and of the old Mine. There are very fair ones, and of great price, did not the plenty of them make them lesse esteemed, I once saw one weighed four ounces, sold for 6000. realls.

The Emerald incorporated within a rock, is like the mettle contained, and while 'tis imperfect, the rock will be vein'd with green and white, and opening the rock, the Emerauld lyes there imperfect, of the colour of the rock, green and white; so as to have it come to maturity, they leave it there till na∣ture bring it to perfection, and go digge another place for riper: The Mexicans had a custome to peirce the nose and chin of their Idols, to put Emeraulds in them: one of their kings himselfe had his nose so bor'd and adorn'd with an Eme∣rauld, and from thence was surnam'd Nose-bor••d.

Notes

• Mines of silver.
• Mines of gold and silver.
• The man∣ner of their working in the Mine.
• Quick∣silver.
• Pearle-fishing▪
• Men di∣vers.
• Emeralds enemies of incon∣tinency.