DRESS NET FOR THE HAIR. MATERIALS:-14 oz. of gold thread, about the size of Evans's Boar's Head, No. 8. 3 strings of rather Cut 10 lengths, of two yards each, and 20 lengths in pairs, each two inches shorter than the preceding. For instance: the first pair will be 70 inches, the next 68, and so on. Take a large hard cushion, or pillow, and pin on the 10 lengths, at the side furthest from you, exactly in the centre of the threads. There will thus be 20 strings of each a yard. You will then begin the knotting, which is done in the following manner: Take four threads at the left hand, and of these hold the two centre between the thumb and first finger, whilst you pass the left hand one so as to form a loop on the right hand side (diagram a); take the right hand thread, pass the end under this loop, across the two centre, under the left hand thread and end, which are still on the left, and again down through the same loop in which you first inscribed it (diagram b). The knot is then complete, and only requires to be drawn up about half an inch from the pin. Before it is quite drawn up, slip a pearl-bead on the two centre threads, and let it remain in the middle of the knot, as seen in the diagram accompanying this. As there are four threads for each knot there will be large pearl beads. The net being thus completed, slip a thread of gold all round, under the knots of the last half, and the loops formed by the doubled threads of the preceding. Tie the thread so as to contract the net into a round shape, and with Boulton's steel crochet hook, No. 14, work x 1 dc under thread and knot; 5 ch, 1 de under next thread and knot; 3 ch, 1 de under next thread and knot; 3 ch, 1 dc on thread; 3 ch, 1 dc on thread; 3 ch x repeat all round. 2nd round of border.-Slip on any 3 dc of last round; x 3 ch, miss 1, dc on 2nd; x 3 3 ch, dc under every loop of 3 just made, and then 3 ch, slip on chain before the dc on which you began this round; turn the work, and repeat de under every chain, with 3 chain between; 3 ch, sc on chain of 1st round, and slip on this till you come to the place where the next shell is to be begun-namely, the 2nd dc stitch, after 5 ch. 3rd round.-D c under chain, x 3 ch, dc under next X, wherever the loop of 3 ch occurs, and missing two between the d c where it does not. 4th round.-x dc under loop, 4 ch, de under next, 4 ch x repeat. Plait a band of gold thread, with a tassel at each end, and let it be sufficiently long to run in the same line of holes as the single thread, and to allow the tassels to hang as represented in the engraving. POINT LACE COLLARS.-No. I. MATERIALS:-No. 7 French White Cotton Braid, and Evans's Point Lace Cottons. MATERIALS:-Evans's Mecklenburgh Thread, No. 1, and Evans's Point Lace Cottons. For the stitches used, see the "New Monthly Belle Assemblée" for January, 1851. Having frequently insisted on the fact that the Point Lace I have from time to time presented to our readers is not a new art, but merely the revival of a very old one, they will not be surprised at my now giving them the same design, worked in a manner entirely different to that already described; both modes being found in Antique Point, though the last is at once the more ancient and the more va luable. The second collar is worked entirely without braid, the outlines being formed of the coarse linen thread termed Evans's Mecklenburgh, No. 1. It is laid on the design, and tacked over and over, with a fine thread, to keep it in its place. The needle never passes through the coarse thread, as it does through the braid. Two parallel lines of thread are laid on, close to each other, to form the neck, and the scallop within it. They are covered with button-hole stitch, worked in Evans's Mecklenburgh, 120. Throughout the rest of the pattern a single line of thread suffices. It may be necessary to observe that the pattern should be pasted on strong linen for this kind of work, as it is more apt to get dragged than the other; or the design may be drawn on good soft vellum, and will then last many times. The new stitch consists merely of a twisted thread (of which a diagram is given), worked over bars of the same, taken across from one coarse thread to another. The short bars and the twisted threads are in Evans's Boar's Head, No. 70. The centre of the Thistle is worked in a rosette, in Evans's Mecklenburgh, No. 120; and the Venetian bars, where occurring, in the same thread. The dotted bars are done in a stitch which forms the groundwork of the oldest and most valuable Point. The collar (or rather the fragments of the one), in which Sir Walter Raleigh was presented to Queen Elizabeth, and which is preserved as a relic by a descendant of his house, has the ground formed entirely in this stitch. It is worked thus: Make a bar of Mecklenburgh thread, in the direction required, and then work about 8 button-hole stitches on it. Pass the needle over the bar, bringing it out to the right of the new loop; do not draw up this stitch, but hold the loop a couple of inches long with the left hand, whilst with the right you pass the needle eight times through the loop, thus making as many twists in the righthand side of the loop. Draw it up, and slip the needle through the loop to be ready to continue the button-hole stitch. This little knot is to be repeated as often as may be required by the pattern. Use Evans's Mecklenburgh Thread, 100. The same material will be proper for the Sorrento edging, which completes the collar. CREST. TO BE WORKED IN SQUARE CROCHET. MATERIALS:-For a desert d'oyley use Evans's Boar's Head Cotton, No. 40, with a crochet-hook, No. 20. If worked in square netting, the materials should be Evans's Mecklenburgh Thread, No. 7, to be darned with the same thread, No. 12. It may be useful to remind our readers of the mode of working square netting. Begin with one loop, and increase one every row, working backwards and forwards, until there are as many loops up the side as are required to form one side of the square. Half the d'oyley being then done, diminish until one stitch only is left, by omitting to net the first stitch of every row. Wash the netting, starch it slightly, and pin it out whilst wet, very evenly. When dry, it will be in a nice square form, and easily darned. The usual way of darning is by simply running the thread backwards and forwards, in one direction throughout; but the beautiful old Flanders lace is darned by running two threads in every square, in one direction, and then crossing the whole in the opposite, passing the second threads alternately above and below the others. This plan produces a much richer and better effect than the usual method, and for d'oyleys and other fine articles should always be adopted. POTOSI. The Historical Mountain of Silver, Translated from the MS. " Annales de Potosi.” BY W. B. 1462. In this year Guayna Capac Inca, the eleventh monarch of Peru, going to extract silver from the rich mines seven leagues from Potosi, was entertained at Cantomarca, and having admired the beautiful exterior of the mountain of Potosi, said that without doubt it contained within itself much silver; in consequence of which, having arrived at Porco, he sent some of his workmen with the object of extracting silver from it. The men arrived there, and when about commencing operations they heard a frightful noise, like unto loud thunder, after which was heard, in a tremulous voice, these words, "Take not the silver out of this mountain, because it is reserved for other masters." At this they desisted, returning to Porco, detailing to the Inca what had happened; and at the part relating to the frightful noise they repeated the word "Potosi," which means in their language, "there was a frightful noise." At that period the mountain was called "Polocchi," which means "brotader de plata," the silver budding mountain. 1523. The Inca Cusiguarca, twelfth monarch of Peru, being at Cantomarca, he bathed in the Lake of Tarapaya, and ascended the mountain of Potosi, and although he praised the beauty of its exterior, looked upon it with fear, on account of what had been told respecting it to the Inca Guayna Capac. 1528. Atagualpa, thirteenth monarch of Peru, having usurped the kingdom from his brother Cusiguarca, went into the province of Charcas to collect forces for the conquest of Chili, at which time he worked the silver mines of Porco; he amused himself at the baths of Tarapaya, erected buildings there, and admired very much the rich mountain of Potosi. 1533. The kingdom of Peru was discovered by the Spaniards, and Pedro de Candia being sent by Don Francisco Pizarro to the Incarral Court, was the first Spaniard to witness the grandeur of its native monarchs. The history of the discovery and conquest of Peru, its magnificence, &c., was written by fourteen celebrated historians. 1535. Pizarro founded Lima. 1538. The Captain Pedro de Auzures founded Chuquisaca. 1545. In the month of January the metallic riches of the mighty Potosi were discovered by an Indian named Diego Guallca, who, as some authors say, was on his road with a troop of lamas to the mines of Porco, which had the year previous (1544) been worked by the Spaniards. He remained for the night on the mountain of Potosi, and tethered his flock in amongst *Porco. It was here the Incas had considerable mining operations going on. the pasture. The animals going about searching for food, pulled up by the roots some of the pasture; when a vein of silver presented itself. Others mention that an Indian, whilst hunting about there, found himself in a dangerous position, when he caught hold of a tuft of grass to save himself, which becoming loosened from the soil, and giving way, the silver was discovered. Others assert-which I think the most probable-that the Indian Guallca left Porco in search of one of his flock that had strayed, and which he found, about seven in the evening, upon the mountain of Potosi ; he tethered it and remained on the spot lighting a fire, so to warm himself, with some of the dried pasture (the Quinca plant) and wood of the mountain; and in the morning when he awoke, he perceived that the heat of the fire during the night had melted the silver, and caused it to run down in small streams. The Indian Gual'ca kept his discovery a secret until the month of April, when having confided the same to another Indian, named Guanca, this last made it known to the Captain Don Juan de Villa-Roeel that Guallca had discovered the mighty Potosi. Guanca took his Senor Villa-Roeel to the mountain, and he was the first Spaniard that saw the silver then, and the first to take possession of a portion called an "Estaca." He afterwards took with him the Captain Diego Senteno, when they began to work in the large vein called that "discovered by Senteno." In July the Indians of Cantomarca and neighbouring valleys allied themselves against the Spaniards, in consequence of the latter forcing them to work in the mines; this led to a fight, in which fifty Indians and three Spaniards were killed, and many wounded on both sides. In September there were already 170 Spaniards and 3,000 Indians on the spot; and now the founding of the town commenced by Villa-Roeel, the two Centenos, Santander, and many Spanish nobles. 1547. There were 2,000 houses erected, and the population amounted to 14,000 souls. 1549. Chuquisaca erected into a city. 1552. The aroba (25lbs.) of wine was worth 30 dollars (about 5 dollars equal to the pound sterling); the fanego of wheat 40; a chicken 5 and 6; an egg 2 reals (about a shilling); a yard of rich brocade 200. The silver was extracted by smelting the ore only. 1556. In the celebration of the coronation of Philip II., in Potosi, eight millions of dollars were expended.* Manco Cupac was the first king of Peru, and from him to Tupac Amaro makes seventeen kings. This last Inca was killed by the Spaniard Toledo in 1556. R 1658. There was a scarcity in the produce of silver, in consequence of the wickedness of the inhabitants. 1560. Potosi was visited by a plague, many dying after only twenty-four hours' illness. It continued the following year. 1562. The mines became rich, and a Turk named Zapata extracted from his mine in a short period two million of dollars. 1661. By a royal order it was shown that, since the discovery of Potosi, 1,480 millions of dollars had paid royalty; and it was the general opinion that a similar sum had been abstracted without paying royalty, making the sum of two thousand nine hundred and sixty millions of dollars, or five hundred and ninety-two million pounds sterling. Annually the merchants from Spain took with them, via Buenos Ayres, a great quantity of bullion (plata pina, and in bars). Much silver also was used for the churches and in 1571. Pedro F. de Velasco introduced from Mexico the method of amalgamating the silver ores with mercury, for which he was paid a mil-private houses, in Potosi as well as in Peru and lion of dollars. 1572. Many amalgamating works formed, and a mint established. From the commencement of the mining operations seventy-six millions of dollars had already paid the quintos (royalty to the crown). 1579. The Governor of Potosi gave a marriage portion to his daughter of two million three hundred thousand dollars, besides jewels. 1580. In consequence of the abundance of silver the poorest inhabitant had five hundred thousand dollars, the most opulent four to six millions. A Chilian horse sold for two thousand dollars. 1586. By the books at the mint, it appeared that, from 1575 sixteen millions had paid the royalty. 1589. Saint Francisco Solano, who had come from Tucuman, was most hospitably received. 1590. From Acosta's history of the Indies, printed in Spain, it appeared that from 1545 to 1585, the quintos or royalties alone received by the King of Spain were eleven millions, and that the value of silver extracted was five hundred millions of dollars; and it was supposed that as much more had been taken out of the mines that had not paid royalty, having been clandestinely taken away. 1594. A barber's boy discovered that the introduction of iron in the process of amalgamation was beneficial. At that period iron sold for two dollars the pound. Tin, which was found in the vicinity, was subsequently used instead of Spain. Such a production of precious metal, and in so short a time, is without example. 1665. In masses, &c., at the death of Philip III., were expended twelve millions of dollars. 1669. The expense of the Fiestas of Santa Rosa amounted to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars: she was born at the mines of Porco, and lived at Lima. She is the patron saint of Peru. 1684. There were very great droughts, and a deadly plague in the country. The holy body of Christ of the true Cross was carried in devout procession; when it rained most miraculously, and the plague ceased. From this period Potosi became religious; and although previously there was a great expenditure of wax for lighting the churches, and silver in the beautifying her temples-and ere I go further, I must say that experience has taught us that when temporal benefits are showered upon us they cause us to forget God-I may add that the inhabitants clung to their riches; but at this time when part of their wealth had declined (this was in reference to the drought and disease), all is peace, virtue, charity, and devotion. Now although there are no mundane pleasures in Potosi, there are Divine ones; for now those superfluous and vain shows have given way to church festivals, on which are lavished much treasure. O great Potosi! what has become of your ancient grandeur and pastimes; your brilliant jousts; and the adornments with which your inhabitants and miners marched into your plaza! Where are those costly dresses of your matrons and maidens? where the strange and beautiful clothing of the Mestezos? what has become of thirty-old and expensive costumes with which the Indians were dressed? O illustrious city! where are the bars of silver which with vanity thou didst lay at the foot of the altar; and even to the covering of the floor of the mint on the day of Corpus Christi, and the plata pina, which served as candlesticks? Where are thy marriage-portions of millions? O what has be come of so much grandeur? ay, and even more than I have specified? Yes, all is lost; all is pain and anxiety; all is tears and sighs. Is it possible, O magnificent city, that thy sins 1632. According to the amount of royalty have caused thee such suffering? Yes, thou paid to the Spanish crown, it was shown that now dost well to mend thy past evil ways, and nine hundred and eighty millions of dollars had thus appease the wrath of thy God by the peralready passed through the mint since its foun-formance of pious works, and to venerate His iron. 1595. The Mendicta Mine fell in, killing three hundred Indians and two Spaniards. 1597. Up to this year five hundred and six millions of dollars had paid royalty. Twentyeight persons perished by lightning. 1599. On the news arriving in Potosi of the death of Philip II., one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars were expended in masses and wax candles, the latter being ten dollars the lb. 1600. On the receipt of information from Spain of the coronation of Philip III., six millions were expended in rejoicing. 1602. There were one hundred and sixty-two silver grinding-mills in operation. dation. 1650. The rich miner Santeros died, leaving twenty millions of dollars. holy religion. Continue, O great Potosi, in such works, with humility, and only with the end of time will this King of Mountains cease to yield |