Gold In Ancient Times

Gold was ni exucss 111 anciont limes, and mostly taken from the rivors in Asia. The fablás of Pactólas, of the golden Üecee of tho Argonauta, of the golcl from Opliir, the lnstory of Kh'g Mlffas, etc., all poiut to au Eastern origin of tliia metal. Aecording to Pliny, Cvrtis returned with 31,000 ppimds of gold (about $10,000,000). The treasures exacted from Persia by Alexander the üreat amountcHl to ;51,000 talents, or 400,000,000. (Jold also carue from Arabia, íuid upon the Nile from the interior of África. Pliny called Asturias the country in wlrich tno most gold is found. A' tablet beariiiï the following inscription was foiiml in Jdanha Volha, Portugal: "Claudias Rnfus returns his thanks lo Júpiter for having permitted him to find 130 pounds of gold." These sourccs of wealth have ceased to ílow, and the endcávor of scveral Englishmen to reopen thcm liave bceu unsuccossfnl. Bohemia. Mahren, SHesia,.Sftd Trol :ill havo producid oold, and tho receding oí' thc glaoii'vs has caused oíd mines to Ín1 uncovered, wlíile upon the Italia sido, at Monte Rosa, Val Sesina, Vsil Ausaca gold mines ave stil 1 worked to-day, allhoiish with indifferent success. Tho only ' v5rks of any note are thoso of Kremnit' Hmunurs. It mav. therefore, be saíely isserteil, that fiuropo is coiupletelv cxluiiisLod n this respect. -