The royal commentaries of Peru : in two parts / written originally in spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega; rendred into english by sir Paul Rycaut.

BooK Vlll. , Royal Commentaries. but rhen che fecond time they founded it again in their Houfes, blowing che fire, as we have faid, with the Pipes of Copper, when they made fepa ration of their Lead from their Silver. For in regard the l ndians had nor rh~ knowledge of ali chofe inventions, which the Spaniards have atcained in rhe Are of fepararing Gold, and Silve!:> and Lead, perforrned by Aqua fortü, and-other Ingredients; their way was by oteen Melting, to bum out the Lead, and fo refine : By ·which we may obferve, that the Jndians had forne knowledge of retining che Silver of Potoft, be- fare the difcovery of Q!ick-filver·; and íl:ill conferve that Art~ rhough not fo com- monly or frequently known amongíl: rherp as fonnerly. . The Maíl:ers and Owners of the Mines, perceiving rhat by this way of Melting by natural Wiods , their Goods and Riches were divided, and much embezelled by being difperfed into feveral hands; wherefore ro reme~ this inconvenience, they employed Day-labourers, who were Jndians, to dig and exrraét th_e Meral; and then the Spaniards themfelves melted clown their own Silver ; whereas before the Jndians having exrraéi:ed che Ore, for every hundred weight thereofagreed and fiipulated with rheir Maíl:ers to return them fucb a qµantity of Silver. By rhis good husbandry, and by rhe in:iprovements they had made in che Art of Melting, rhey made great Bellows, which being placed ar a diftance, would blow rheir fires in- to an extremiry of flame. Bue this neither proving a ready way, rhey made an Engine wíl:h Wheels, carried about with Sails like a Wind-mill, or turned by Horfes; which fanned and blowed the fire with great violence. Nor did this nei- · ther doe the work, fo that che Spaniards defpairing of the fuccefs oftheir inventions, made ufe of tbofe.which the lndians had frameq and contrived; and fo things continued for 22 years, untill che year 1567, wlien by tbe wit and iríduíl:ry of a certain Portugal, narn~ Henrique G.arces, agreat plenty ofQ!iick-füver was difcovered in che Province of Huanca, furnamed Vi/lea, which fignifies Greatnefs,or Erninence ~ I know not for what reafon, unlefs it be for the great abundance of Qgick-filver wbich that Countrey yielded ; which is fo neceíláry in the founding of Metals, chat without it tbere is great waíle-and confumption; and which hach been fq ufe- . full, that eight thoufand QIDntals of it have every year been fpent in che fervíce of his Majeíl:y; and yet nocwithíl:anding tbis great plenty of Quick-filver which was difcovered,' the Spaniards were for fome time ignorant of the ufe w.hich.might be made tbereof in the more eafte extraéting of their Silver ; nor had they far the fpace of four years after any good Aífay-Maíler, untill che year 1571, when a certain Spaniar d named Fernande:{. de 'f/elafco, who liad lived at Mexico, and learned tbe manner of extra.éi: ing the Silver with Qg.ick-filver, carne to Peru, and taught tbe ufe of it to them t bere. As Acofta more largely and curioufly relates, to.whom 1 refer the Reader, who defires to be informed of many rarities and matters of this natme worthy to be known. B O O K 347