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There is nothing else here – it is purely mining. This region, Potosí, especially depends on mining more than anything. For that reason, I work in mining, I am purely in mining. It is the compounds of lead, silver [and] zinc that prevail most of all here. It’s the main wealth of this economy, of this city – for that reason I dedicate myself to this work. – Lorenzo

The truth is, it was a sad [early] life because my mother died and I was left [alone]. I grew up suffering. When someone dies – the father or mother – you’re in constant pain. I haven’t had peace since then. I came out here when I was a young man. My father was alone. As a young man I was forced to work. The truth is, I went inside [to mine] by necessity. I had to go where I had work. I started working in the pit – the pit is outdoors. The pit is free, like working in the yard. It’s fine there. But working inside the mine… In the interior, it’s different. The outdoors is one thing and the interior is another. I moved forward one cuadra [84m] in three and a half years. Sometimes you need to motivate yourself to work. The hardworking, the one who wants to profit, has to sacrifice himself, and the one who does not want to, sees no gain. If you wanted to have something, you had to work until night. It was complete slavery. – Don Juan