Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/88

64 State, it seemed as if this calamity was about to bury all the riches of the mountain. The miners were obliged to scrape together the little ore they could find at the orifices of the mines; but had the mortification to discover that it did not repay the trouble and expence of refining. Those who were interested now formed a jun6tion, and agreed to make an opening in the inferior part of the mineral rock of Santa Rosa. The execution of this plan was confided to Don Felix De Ijurra, a very skilful miner, whose zeal, probity, and experience had already been evinced by several undertakings of a similar nature in which he had been engaged. Amid the difficulties which Nature opposed at every step, and what was more, having to supply with his own private purse the deficiencies of many of the subscribers, Don Ijurra at length completed his undertaking, drained off the water which had found its way into the mines of Santa Rosa, and, in a manner, gave new life to the whole of the mineral territory. The prosecution of this scheme was aided by all the influence of Don Francisco Cuellar, then governor of Tarma. The wise provisions of Don Juan De Galvez, lieutenant-governor of those provinces, have perfecfed this task, as honourable to the co-operators, as it has been useful to the state.

With a view to drain off the water, a new aperture has been recently made, at a great expence, in the inferior part of the mine of Lauri-Cocha. The expectations of the pro- prietors are already in a great measure realized. The ores of this very productive mine are cineritious, and of a colour inclining