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Potosi was once the richest town in the world due to the Silver Mine, the silver was first found by a farmer who set fire to his crops and the ground then ran silver, this started the silver boom of the area! Unfortunately it has now all but dissappeared, but they still mine tin & other minerals.
Potosi still looks like a rich town, with many churches (about 15!! thankfully Hannah didnt make us walk round them!) and amazing buildings but thats about all thats left.
The mine tour starts with going to a few local shops to buy dynamite, 96% alcohol, and a few other presents for the miners, and of course Coca Leaves.
There isnt a lot of head room, or space in the mine, which is why as we first walked in we both conteplated turning straight back around and walking out! But we carried on, not wanting to wimp out! (it was scary to start with) Most of the time you couldnt stand up straight, having to crawl through some parts on your hands & knees, looking around and seeing wooden beams half snapped, electrical cables dangling, compressed air hissing out from pipes, and cyanide growing on the walls! All round a very safe place to be!
After going down to the second level (4 levels to the mine) we were rushed through to a side tunnel as they were setting off some dynamite, we were told there would be 3 explosions, evenone was slightly concerned when there were only 2 lol.
The miners age from 10 - 45yrs old, but most die young due to the dust they breath in everyday. We met many of the miners, the youngest being 14. We sat and chatted to a few, helped shovelling up rock (which was so difficult in the heat!) and gave them gifts. As it was a friday afternoon, most have stopped working and get drunk, although they are still deep inside the mine, chewing on coca leaves so much it looks like they have a growth on their cheek!
In the deepest part of the mine you find the Tio (devil), a statue that they have built and pray to. They give gifts of alcohol, cigarettes and coca leaves to keep him happy and to protect them from cave ins and explosions.
Most people dont want to be working in the mines but it is the only option they have and the only way to earn money. Some children work in the mine for half a day and go to school for the other half, they try to keep it a secret that they work in the mine as the other kids bully them!
Everyone working in the mine knows they will die young but they have no other way to live!
- comments
Glynny This sounds like your reorting for a paper, well written! its such a sad story, i watched a documentory about this not long ago. The people literally have no other option.