The following are the principal cities which arc scat tered over this viceroyalty, with their latitudes, and the year of their foundation : be the magnets which attract the cupidity and ambitior. of European adventurers.
The mines of this viceroyalty are chiefly confined to the north-western districts, which, in 1778, were se parated from Peru ; and consist of gold, silver, mercury, copper, lead, and platina. These mines arc all in the hands of private individuals, who, upon the discovery of a mine, immediately receive from the king a grant of a piece of ground, containing 80 Spanish yards in length, and 40 in breadth, in the direction of the vein or bed; and arc only held to pay a certain duty to government upon the minerals extracted. This duty is valued by Bourgoing,on an average for all the Spanish colonies in America, at 111 per cent. of the silver, and 3 per cent. of the gold. The proprietors seldom work the metals themselves, as they find more account in letting them out to others, who often enter upon very hazardous, and sometimes ruinous speculations. Though new and rich veins of treasure are almost daily discovered, yet few of them are very profitable to their possessors, being soon abandoned, either from the destruction of the works, by the rushing in of the water, from the vein failing, or from the miner not being able to support the expense.
The following table, which is given by Helms, con tains a specification of the various mines that are at pre sent in a state of exploration in the different districts, as registered in the chancery : Notwithstanding the fertility of this country, the be nignity of the climate, and the many natural advantages which it enjoys for the purposes of agriculture, the cul tivation of the soil has been in a great measure neglect ed; and this viceroyalty. which, by proper regulations and active industry, might have been rendered the gra nary of the old world, has hitherto produced little more than what is necessary for the consumption of its inha bitants. The native pride and indolence of the Spaniards, and the brutish sluggishness of the Indians, Form the great bar to agricultural improvements in the New World ; and extensive plains, fertilized by innumerable rivers, are employed merely in the breeding of cattle. Of late, however, some attempts have been made for the promoting of colonial cultivation, by the introduc tion of negro labourers and improved implements of agriculture. But many years must pass, and Africa
must be drained of many myriads of her sons, before these advantages can be estimated or felt ; and we can not wish success to a system, which can only he upheld by cruelty and oppression. The mineral treasures which this continent contains in its bowels, were the first in ducements which led its conquerors to forsake their homes, and brave the dangers and deprivations of fo reign warfare. For these, the produce of its surface was neglected and despised; and these still continue to Among these, the silver mine of Potosi is by far the most productive, and indeed the only one particularly deserving of attention. The mountain, from which the metal is extracted, is of a conical farm, about six leagues in circumference, and 4182 feet above the neighbouring. plains. The discovery of its treasure was owing en tirely to accident: a Peruvian, named Diego lItyolpa. while chasing some chamoys among the rocks, ii his ascent laid hold of a small shrub, whose roots giving way, disclosed to his view an immense vein of silver, which has been since distinguished by the name of La Rica, or the Rich. Toe Indian concealed the circum stance from all his friends, and only had recourse to this treasure to supply his occasional wants ; but the obvious change in his fortune had excited the suspicions of one of his companions, who, by urgent entreaties, drew from h,m the secret, but who, upon some slight quarrel, soon after revealed it to his master, a Spaniard. The information was no sooner received than the mine was opened ; and it was formally registered on the 21st of Aprii 1545. Since that time, it has been constantly wrought, and the silver, which has paid the royal duties from this mine, has been valued at 5750 millions of livres tournois, equal to 234,693,8401. sterling. The mountain is now almost completely excavated, and is perforated with above 300 pits, few of which, however, are more than 70 yards deep. It is now opened at the base, and vaults aug horizontahy, penetrate into its bowels, and meet the veins of silver. In these vaults, which are call ed by the miners sacabouas, and arc about six feet high and eight feet broad, the air is cold and unwholesome, and there the Indians work alternately night and day, deprived of the light and heat of the sun, and entirely naked, to prevent them from embezzling any of the ore.