"'After having observed the progress of the machine at the Santa
Rosa Mine last Saturday, the 14th instant, at 10 o'clock at night we
began to act; at 11 o'clock the pitmen went down to clear the shaft,
and have not since ceased working an instant. The clearing of the
mud and rubbish which had remained at the bottom of the shaft, and
clogged every moment the buckets and suckers of the engine, lasted
till Wednesday; but this being accomplished, at 12 o'clock at noon
they began to break through the level. At half a yard below the shaft
we found a lively coppery ore, with its particles of silver. This
bronze-coloured ore indicates that the veins of Yauricocha and San
Diego incline to the west, or towards the Santa Rosa Mine. The mines
in the vicinity of this pit are all dry. Some of them, at the distance
of 300 yards, in the ridge of Santa Rita, have also felt its effects;
and even as far as the territory of Caya, behind our steam-works, the
waters have fallen in several mines. Don John Vivas has begun to work
in San Diego Mine. They are also going next Monday to begin working in
several points of the Santa Rosa Mine. The pit is already 8 yards in
depth, and we are proceeding with the greatest activity. The workmen
are relieved every two hours, and as they go out they give up their
tools to those who succeed them, by which means not a minute is lost.
Continuing thus, in the course of a month we shall be at more than 20
yards depth, and have many mines in full activity. The winding engine
raises a basket (which is a load) in two minutes; the draining or
steam-engine, with two vibrations per minute, keeps the surface always
dry. Both work with the greatest ease, certainty, and regularity.
"'By dint of searching after a vein of coal, we have at last found one
near at hand, of excellent quality and of great richness. The pit we
are now at work at is at the distance of a quarter of a league from
Rancas, and at the same distance from Vista Alegre which the Cerro is
from these works. We have likewise found a vein of plumbago, which
was an object of search, on the supposition that it was coal. This
substance, of which much is consumed, mixed with grease, to soften the
friction of the piston, &c., we have now here; and thus the necessity
of sending to Lima, or perhaps to Europe, for it is obviated.'"
Within six months of the setting to work the pumping engine in Santa
Rosa, another pumping engine was at work at Yanacancha Mine.
The following extracts from the 'Lima Gazette' were published in the
Cornish papers by Mr. Edmonds:--
"_From the Government Gazette of Lima, 12th Feb., 1817._
"We have had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Pasco, dated 6th
instant, containing the following account:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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