256

POTOSI.

CHAP. XXV.

daily of the mining operations: he says (vol. ii.p. 17), “ the celebrated mines of El Pan de Azucar,Rosario, and the golden Lavaderos of the Rinco-nada, were abandoned.” “TheBineros or Lavaderosof the province so much spoken of as producingabundance of gold in dust, grains, and scales, yield-ing never less than twenty-three carats, have beenabandoned, though not one-third worked.” AtTupiza the captain examined some mines on whichGeneral Olaneta, who fell in defence of theSpanish authority, had expended half a million ofdollars. The machinery in these mines w 7 as in amost dilapidated state, and the adits, though notquite finished, were already nearly choked up.

The account the same author gives of the neigh-bourhood of Potosi, which he visited in 1826, con-tains striking proofs of a vast decline. “ From apopulation of one hundred and thirty thousandat the commencement of the revolution, Potosidwindled to nine thousand in 1826, but duringthe administration of General Miller had increasedagain to eleven thousand 1 .” At one period therewere one hundred and thirty-two stamping millsat work, but when Captain Andrews was there nomore than twelve were employed: he says, “ manyof the emigrant proprietors obtained leave to re-turn and claim their property. These persons,however, have not a shilling to set the works

1 Vol. ii. p. 115.