The Mines of Potosi exceed all other, because the Diggers never meet with any Water, notwithstanding they work above two hundred Fathom under Ground, whereas the other Silver Mines suffer great damage by the Water; which was also the reason why the Spaniards left off digging of Silver in Porco, because they were not onely forc’d to cut through hard Rocks, but ran greater danger, or at least bestow’d extraordinary labor to get out the Water which broke in upon them.
Four Silver Veins, with their several Divisions.
The four Silver Veins of Potosi, viz. The Rich, Centeno, Del Estanno, and Mendieta, lie on the East-side of the Mountain, and extend North and South. The great Veins produce lesser, not unlike the Body of a Tree, from which shoot forth several degrees of Boughs. Each Vein is divided into several parts, possess’d by several Owners; the least part is open’d four Rods, and the biggest eighty; for none are permitted by the Law to open a bigger Hole. In the time of the Jesuit Joseph de Acosta, an Eye-witness, who Anno 1587. went from Peru to Spain, the Rich Vein was reckon’d to contain eighty seven Mines, of which some were digg’d two hundred Fathom deep. The Spaniards judge that at the Root of the Rich Vein is an incredible Treasure, though Experience hath hitherto taught us, that the Silver lessens in price and quantity the deeper they dig in the Ground.
The Socabonos or Trenches, with the manner of Mining.
For the more easie working in the Mines, the Spaniards have digg’d Trenches (which they call Socabonos) at the Foot of the Mountain towards the West, cross through the Mountain to the Mine, each of them being eight Foot broad and a Fathom deep, and lock’d up with Gates, through which the Silver is carried out, whereof the Owner of the Socabon receives a fifth part. The Socabon which leads to the Rich Vein, was begun Anno 1556. and finish’d in twenty nine years, extends it self two hundred and fifty Rods in length. The Miners work by Candle-light both Day and Night by turns; those that work in the Day, sleep in the Night, and those that work in the Night, sleep in the Day. The Oar, which is as hard as a Stone, is cut out with Pick-axes, beaten in pieces with an Iron Crow, and carried upon their Backs on Ladders made of Leather: Each Ladder hath three Fastnings about the thickness of a Cable, stretch’d out by Sticks, so that one goes up on one side, whilest another comes down on the other. Each Ladder being ten Fathom long, is pitch’d upon its several Floor on which the Laborers rest before they go up higher, for they make divers Floors according to the depth of the Mine. The Laborers carry the Oar in Bags fastned before on their Breasts, and falling back over their Shoulders three and three together, the foremost whereof ties a lighted Candle to his Thumb, and thus they help themselves with both Hands. It is a wonderful thing to consider, how the Peruvians are able to scramble up and down continually a hundred and fifty Fathom: But besides many other Inconveniences, the Mines often fall in, or at least great pieces, which bury all the Diggers. The Mines also, being excessive cold, occasion to those that are not us’d to them, a Vertigo in the Head, and Vomiting. The Silver runs for the most part between two Rocks, as it were, in a long Channel, of which one side is as hard as Flint, and the other much softer. This Silver is of different value; the best, call’d Cacilla or Tacana, resembles Amber in colour; the worser sort is blackish, and sometimes of an Ash-colour. The pieces of Oar are carry’d on the Backs of the Sheep Pacos to the Mill, where being ground to Powder, they are put into Furnaces to melt; of which there were once above six thousand on the top of Potosi; but since the Quicksilver was found to cleanse the same, not a third part remains pure.
In former times the Mines at Porco, two Leagues from the little Lake Aulagas, produc’d those vast Treasures gather’d by the Ingas, which afterwards for the most part fell into the Spaniards Hands.
Port-Towns, Rivers, and Havens of Los Charcas.
As concerning the Sea-Coast of Los Charcas, it lies as followeth: Southerly from the River Tambopalla puts forth a three-pointed Rock into the Ocean, and makes the Haven De Ylo, into which falls a fresh River. Next follow the round Hill Morro de los Diabolos, and the Inlet before the Town Arica, secur’d from all except a Westerly Wind, where the Silver that comes from Potosi is Shipp’d for Lima. Since the English Admiral Sir Francis Drake took three Barks out of this Inlet it is fortifi’d with a Castle, which is stor’d with Brass Guns.
Nine Leagues Southward the Pissaqua falls into the Ocean; and next you come to the little Village Hicahic, situate on a high and barren Tract of Land; as also the Haven Terrapaca, which by an Inland is made very secure.
Not far from hence appears the Foot of Piqua, where the Coast begins to rise very high; the Head of Tacama, the Stream Lottoya, otherwise call’d De Loa, whose Banks are inhabited by poor People; the River Montelo, the Promontory Morro Moreno, beyond whose utmost Point opens a Bay, secur’d from all Winds by an Island. The Inhabitants here feed on raw Fish.