Tut. Yes; it is next in softness to lead, and, therefore, when it is made into coin, or used for any common purposes, it is mixed with a small proportion of some other metal, in order to harden it. This is called its alloy. Our gold coin has one twelfth of alloy, which is copper.
Geo. How beautiful new gold coin is!
Tut. Yes—scarce any metal takes a stamp or impression better; and it is capable of a very fine polish.
Geo. What countries yield the most gold?
Tut. South America, the East Indies, and the coast of Africa. Europe affords but little; yet a moderate quantity is got every year from Hungary.
Geo. I have heard of rivers rolling sands of gold. Is there any truth in that?
Tut. The poets, as usual, have exaggerated the matter: however, there are various streams in different parts of the world, the sands of which contain particles of gold, and some of them in such quantity as to be worth the search.
Har. How does the gold come there?
Tut. It is washed down along with the soil from mountains by the torrents which are the sources of rivers. Some persons say that all sands contain gold; but I would not advise you to take the pains to search for it in our common sand: for, in more senses than one, gold may be bought too dear.
Har. But what a fine thing it would be to find a gold mine on one’s estate!