M2

MINES IN

CHAP. XXV.

formerly the government of Carraccas, has, per-haps, suffered more, and for a longer period, thanany other part of the southern continent. Its chiefproduce, as far as our purpose requires notice,was gold. This was procured in two ways: eitherby alluvial washing, or by river washing. Thefirst of these modes was practised exclusively byslaves; and some proprietors of those unfortunatebeings destined them to that occupation alone.The auriferous soils are moist in tropical climates,and peculiarly unhealthy; and the excessive labourrequired a constant supply to keep up the numberof labourers. When the internal troubles brokeout in 1810 and 1811 , those who obtained pos-session of power issued decrees pronouncing free-dom to the slaves, which, with whatever intentionit might have been designed, only increased themisery of their condition ; for wherever they werefound they were pressed into the military serviceof the several contending factions, who happenedto gain a temporary superiority in any of thedistricts.

For some years past this operation of alluvialwashing for gold has been confined to secludedindividuals, who by their distance from the im-mediate seat of hostilities continued the employ-ment, but with very little profit. This kind oflabour has been generally diverted to others ofa more profitable description. The soil on thealluvial land is naturally fertile, and with little