Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/195

 shew'd me certain Stones, gathered in great abundance in the Mines of Tasco, which they would have to, be Amethysts, by which they said that certain Flemings had got much money.

I was once desired to visit a famous Cave there, some Leagues from Mexico on the North-west side of the City beyond the Lake. This was said to be guarded all over with a kind of leaf-gold, which had deluded many Spaniards with its profiling Colour, they never having been able to reduce it into a body, neither by Quick-silver nor Fusion; though the fame ran, that. the antient Indians knew how to make use of it, and that the great Montezuma had borrowed thence a considerable part of his Treasure. I rid thither one morning, taking with me one Indian only for my guide, with a Tinder-box and a Candle, and some other instruments for my design. I found it situated somewhat high, in a place very convenient for generation of Mettals; but the mouth so barricaded with stones, that both my Indian and I had work enough to clear the passage for my entrance, which being open'd, I went in with my Candle lightned, but could not make the Indian follow me, being afraid of Spirits and Hobgoblins. The light of the Candle soon discover'd to me on all sides, but especially above my head, a glittering Canopy of the said Mineral Leaves; at which I greedily stretching forth my hand to reach some parcels of it, there fell down presently so great a lump of clotted sand on my head and shoulders, that not only it put out my Candle, but my eyes also, And calling out with a loud voice to my Indian, who remain'd at the mouth of the Entry, there rebounded within those hollow Caverns such thnndring and redoubled Eccho's, that I admired it, and the Indian imagining by those Tumultuous voices, that I was wrestling with some infernal Ghosts, soon quitted his station, and thereby left a free passage for some rayes of light to enter, and to serve me for a better Guide: My sight mean while being not a little indangercd by the corrosive acrimony of that Mineral dust, Having got my Candle lighted again, I proceeded in the Cave, and heaped together quantity of the mineral mixt with sand, and scraped also from the superficies of the Earth, a quantity of the same kind of glittering leaves; none of which exceed the bredth of a mans' nail, and with the least handling Rh