Processing of copper in Chile. Lithograph by G. Scharf, 1824, after P. Schmidtmeyer.

"The Plate no. XV. represents a copper ingenio. Miners are seen bringing the ore out and breaking it. Asses are conveying it to the furnace. A miner is going to it; their dress consists of a woollen red cap and blue tunic, with a leathern apron behind, fastened in front of the waist. Four peons, almost naked, are working two pairs of bellows; after four hours of this labour, which is very hard, they are relieved from it by another set of men, and instantly cover themselves with thick woollen garments: in some ingenios this work is performed by water: two pipes, which communicate with the bottom of the pile, lead there the blast, which is however only alternate, each bellows being single. A man is supplying the burning pile with fresh ore, and another is carrying acacia wood to it. Two men are tapping that furnace; and one is rabbling the copper which is refining in another. The mayordomo is looking over the work."--Schmidtmeyer, loc. cit.