![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/d2f0acea-2775-4e72-b1e3-4b1c86ca3d8d_rw_1920.jpg?h=d1671031844043fa98e8462cd7b7e12d)
Miner, Potosi, Bolivia.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/b3e200a9-1b64-415f-9589-2a8dcae44883_rw_1920.jpg?h=19d96146b639232d287a788ab9d305de)
They all chew cocoa leaves all of the time. In the end their cheeks bulge like they had the mumps.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/be088d8a-ba5a-4dc0-a56b-28eccc7c4a05_rw_1920.jpg?h=33dea1739b64f07d03c49c09a069e42b)
Their altitude of about 4000 meter above sea level makes these mines probably the highest situated mines in the world.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/24084fc9-08dd-4bd5-9cba-a91b192f9faa_rw_1920.jpg?h=3caa77e70a6727d6a06d3c9c45031a0e)
The silver is shipped to Spain at a phenomenal value.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/6fa8712c-f4fd-4f5f-b27e-0ba4c67c9891_rw_1920.jpg?h=ff35f1ca6399c8c9c786adb54c18e9c3)
Some of these men became miners at the age of 12.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/47049218-9f90-48dd-8431-bde8d2344b4b_rw_1920.jpg?h=c82a522c514e93f60110057831fad22b)
Eight million died in the Potosi Mines, the vast, vast majority being Native American slaves brought from all over the Americas (and a relatively small number of African slaves) !!!!
(official Bolivian numbers/wikipedia).
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/aa2334ae-53a9-435c-b2b7-a666e4adcc78_rw_1920.jpg?h=bd354a03fe99fad54b167cc82e039ecb)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/f0e065b5-7a20-4712-a329-45101dc019ee_rw_1920.jpg?h=0f1a318dcb0b851a44e146e67909ccad)
Gaucho, Uruguay.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/36194319-76df-491f-bff8-3a494e68b730_rw_1920.jpg?h=3096992d3a6e02c32add184ef8397b9c)
South-American «cowboys».
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/64c7c32f-ebd9-4f2e-8e68-c4bfb5cd2374_rw_1920.jpg?h=a007d14513eda12a4845e236424f0b92)
In the 18th and 19th century a gaucho used to be a migratory cattle worker and a skilled horseman; a South American cowboy every bit as legendary in South America as his North American counterpart.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/4b6620ae-57be-4cb6-8b61-ff4a46b6ae86_rw_1920.jpg?h=69e91ae60aeceedaac540f2b32e3d19a)
The 21st century gaucho is typically a farmer and family man.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/9664bd9f-6760-46e8-ac24-2bcd3accdb68_rw_1920.jpg?h=d7a451fd9e8f386e26e818e659b98bfe)
Back in the day their slogan was: no boss, no family, no God.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cb8e7ae6-2610-4516-b540-8dba5141bfb5/d51e41f1-2f9e-4083-9a94-0efb02c6f926_rw_1920.jpg?h=5a35f9969f8149f6dcbf867872fbe2b6)
Today, gauchos are a dying breed.