CIIAI>. XXV.

CHILI.

259

having plundered the miners and other inhabitants,were compelled to abandon the place, but carriedwith them the greater part of the metallic wealth.Since that time it has known no tranquil times.

It may therefore be naturally concluded, thatvery little industry could have been applied tomining during the whole twenty years from 1810to 1830.

It will not be calculating too low if we estimatethe whole period to have yielded in gold and silverthe annual amount of . 1,500,000 dollars,

or in the whole period . 30,000,000 dollars,or in sterling-money . 6,305,000pounds,

or on the average of the SO

years . • • 315,250pounds.

During the twenty years under consideration the Chili,produce of the mines of Chili has varied very con-siderably, but especially that of silver. In the twoyears 1810 and 1811, the amount of the lattermetal was four hundred thousand dollars. In theyearl81S, theminesof theSierra AmargaatHuascowere accidentally discovered, and the produce ofthat and the following year amounted to aboutone million six hundred thousand dollars. In 1814)and 1815, partly from the exhaustion of the veins,and partly from the troubled state of the country,the quantity yielded declined to one half, or eighthundred thousand dollars. From 1815 to 18S5,the produce gradually diminished, and on the aver-

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