A Philosophical and Practical Essay on the Gold and Silver Mines of Mexico and Peru; Containing the Nature of the Ore, and the Manner of Working the

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1755. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... [ 5 ] in the upper, should run into the lower, the Owner of the first of them is bound to drain it. These Mines pay the Tenth to the King, wherein they differ from the Peruvians, who pay the Fifth as to Silver; but in Gold there -s no Privilege, they all alike paying the Fifth. I went from Mexico to see the Mines of Pachuca. The first of them, called Santa Cruz, or Holy Cross was Ninety-two EJiados in Depth, (an EJlado is Three SpaniJljY ar ds) and Ninetytwo EJiados is Two Hundred Ninety-fix Spanish, or Two Hundred Twenty-four English Yards. The other, called del Navarro is Eighty EJiados deep, or One Hundred Ninety-five English Yards. In that of Santa Cruz the Metal is taken out with Malacates: This is an Engine with a perpendicular Axletree resting in Two Irons; about the Axletree moves a Wheel, on which, instead of a Rope, an Iron Chain is wound, One End of which comes up with the Ore, hanging to it, and the other goes down for more, like Buckets in a Well. The Engine is kept going by Four Mules, made fast to a Piece of Timber that crosses the Axletree. Two of these Malacates work at this Mine, aswell to draw up the Metal, as to drain the Water, which would otherwise rise and hinder the Work. I went down Five Ladders, or rather Poles, but the Miner would not let me go any farther, for Fear I should tumble headlong; and indeed the Poles to go down by, were wet, and a Man's Foot might easily flip, as as he was finding out the Notch. I went thence to the Mine called del Navarro, where the Indians brought up the Metal on their Backs, with imminent Danger of their Lives in climbing so many Ladders, or rather upright Poles with Notches on the Sides of them. This they do for Four Rials * a Day; but at Night they are allowed to carry up as much Ore as the...