ss expence in extracting gold from
the mineral than any other metal. For this reason also the gold-miners
have the particular privilege that they cannot be sued to execution in
civil actions. Gold only pays a twentieth part to the king, which
duty is called _Covo_, from the name of a private individual at whose
instance the duty was thus reduced, gold having formerly paid a fifth,
as silver still does.

On the descent of this mountain of _Tiltil_, there runs, during the
rainy season, a brisk stream of water, which passes through among
the gold-ore, and washes away abundance of that rich metal, as it
ripens[6] and breaks from its bed. On this account, this stream is
accounted one of the richest lavaderos in all Chili for four months
of every year; and well it may, as there are sometimes found in it
pellets of gold of an ounce weight. At _Palma_, about four leagues
from Valparaiso, there is another rich lavadero; and every where
throughout the country, the fall of a brook or rivulet is accompanied
by more or less of these golden showers, the richest of which fall
into the laps of the jesuits, who farm or purchase abundance of mines
and lavaderos, which are wrought for their benefit by their servants.
The soil in the neighbourhood of Valparaiso is exceedingly rich and
fertile, so that forty ships go from thence yearly to Calao, laden
with corn; yet that commodity still remains so cheap at this place,
where money is so abundant, that an English bushel of wheat may be
bought for less than three shillings. It would be still cheaper, could
all the country be cultivated; but as it has constant dry weather for
eight months endurance, cultivation is only possible where they have
brooks or little rills in the vales coming from the mountains, which
can be applied for irrigating or watering the cultivated land.

[Footnote 6: That is, as the matrix or rock in which it is contained,
moulders and decays by the influences of the weather and of this
stream; for the notion of ores ripening is a mere dream or fancy.--E.]

There is a great trade carried on to all parts of Chili from the
Atlantic ocean, by way of Buenos Ayres, whence the Chilese receive
some European goods, together with large sums in silver, in return
for their commodities. This is perhaps the largest route of Indian
commerce in the world, as the road from Buenos Ayres to Potosi is 1500
miles; and though the distance from Valparaiso be not above 160 miles
more,[7] yet it