.YjMJE'Wsnmsi&sirinr- • mnaiRiygy • Purchased from Henry R. Wagner, Yale '84 1916 BORDER STATES OF MEXICO: SONORA, SlNALOA, CHIHUAHUA AND DURANGO. With a General Sketch of the Republic of Mexico, and Lower California, Coahuila, New Leon and Tamaulipas. A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST REGIONS FOR THE Settler, Miner and the Advance Guard of American Civilization. The Mining Districts and Mines, the "Agricultural and Grazing Regions, Cities and Towns, Location and Distances and Prin cipal Business Men, Factories, etc., Exports, Imports and Productions ; to which are added, Resources of Mexico, Duties, the Trade with Mexico, How to acquire Property in Mexico, Rail roads and Traveling in the Republic, Collected from all the Works extant on Mexico, and Reports of Travelers, Official Records, and Reports of Mining Experts and Old Residents, with Information up to date; the whole making A Complete Guide FOR TRAVELERS AND EMIGRANTS. BY LEONIDAS HAMILTON. THIRD EDITION: REVISED AND ENLARGED. CHICAGO, 1882. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by LEONIDAS HAMILTON, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. O. Introduction. Believing that a more complete description of the northern part of our sister Republic will conduce to the advancement of the mutual interests of the United States and Mexico, the author submits the result of careful investigation of the four northern states of Mexico to the public. We respectfully acknowledge our indebtedness to Ex-Governor Monteverde, of Sonora, and Benjamin E. Rountree, John A. Robinson, Don Celedonio Ortiz, L. Gilson, and I. Thannhauser, of this city, and E. C. Hoffman, of San Jose, and many others, for much of the informa tion contained in the following pages. We have al=o availed ourselves of the valuable and almost inaccessible work of Mr. Ward on "Mexico in -1821," from which we have taken everything of interest applicable to the subject-matter; and the valuable work of Mr. Mowry on Sonora and Arizona, and the impartial Span ish work of Francisco Velasco on Sonora, and translated into English by Mr. Wm. F. Nye, in this city, in 1861, and the work entitled "Travels on the Western Slope of the Mexican Cordillera," by Cincinnatus, and Mr Ruxton's work on "Ad ventures in Mexico," and the late work of Antonio Garcia Cubas on "The Repub lic of Mexico in 1876," translated by Mr. Geo. E. Henderson, in Mexico, and official records and papers, and numerous other works, including pamphlets both in the English and Spanish languages. We have also been rendered valuable assistance by the Mexican Consul and the Honorable Ex-Judge of the Supreme Tribunal of Sinaloa and Lower California, Carlos F. Galan, now practicing law in this city, and many other American and Spanish gentlemen, who have kindly ren dered us every assistance in their power. We have endeavored to give only the facts as we find them, without unnecessary embellishments or fanciful description; the object being to make the contents of value for reference as well as interesting to persons desiring to travel through or emigrate to those portions of Mexico to which we have given our attention, for the purpose of engaging in mining, agriculture, or stock-raising ; or for persons desiring to make profitable investments in those four states. We have availed ourselves of every data that we could obtain, in order to give a complete descrip tion, together with routes of travel and distances, cities and towns, the principal business men, the resources of Mexico, etc. We have also included, in a con densed form, a general view of the Republic of Mexico, and the territory of Lower California, and the border states of Coahuila, New LeOD, and Tamaulipas. In addition, we have referred to the most important land laws restricting American citizens from acquiring real estate in any of the border states. With the good, opportunities offered in those states, we have also attempted to point out the unfavorable features, in order to give an impartial work to the pub lic. We have necessarily been compelled to condense much of our information, in order to bring the work within the reach of all, and at the same time give the most important data to the public. In some instances, we have found it exceed ingly difficult to give as complete information as we desired, and we have, there fore, been careful to state positively only those facts that could be verified. Respectfully submitted. The Author. San Francisco, 1881. CONTENTS. Page. Introduction 3 Physical Features of the Republic of Mexico 7 Political Divisions and Population of Mexico 7 National and State Governments 8 Education, Colleges, Libraries, Museums, Fine Arts, Etc 11 Resources of Mexico 13 Lower California 16 Climate of the Table Lands of the Northern Part of Mexico 17 Sonora Boundaries and general description; climate and productions 19 Guaymas — location, harbor, streets, public build ings, plaza, principal business men, mint, dis tances, Sonora Railroad, population, importance of Guaymas, commerce, Alamos, Altar, stage connections 27 Hermosillo — Cerro de la Campana, aqeduct, vine yards and orchards, public buildings, hotels, beautiful plaza, ladies celebrated for their beauty and fecundity, Paris fashions, business houses, haciendas, water and wood in abundance, factories, mints leased, stage lines, Sonora Rail road 31 Ures — capital, picturesque environs, alameda, ele gant residences, commercial houses, haciendas, Las Delicias, scorpions 36 Santa Cruz — beautiful valley, haciendas, Santa • Cruz River, Spanish explorers, Tumacori, fertile lands • 37 Bacuachi — rich, mineral region, climate, ete., Fron- teras, Bapispe, Bapepito River, Arispe, hacienda of Las Delicias, Sonora River, Moctezuma, Sa- huaripa roads, etc., River Papigochi, Altar minesj LaLibertad 38 Page. Rivers Yaqui and Mayo, course and length ; fertile lands, irrigation, high water, flour mills, oyster beds, settlements; Mayo — narrow valley, settle ments; pearl divers, sharks, whales, mantua or blanket fish 42 Indians and presidios, character of the Yaqui Indi ans — Velasco gives them a bad character; Mayos; Ceris, their character, location, pelican-skin dress; Opatas, anecdote of the Opatas, Papajos; "Pitaya-syrup" Apaches, warlike, personal ap pearance, habitation; comparative peace 46 Discovery of Gold — A natural phenomenon; gold everywhere 56 Mines of Sonora 57 Mining Districts — Location and description of mines of Sonora 58 Sinaloa 102 Roads of the State 106 Mazatlan- — coast, harbor, streets, wholesale and re tail houses, description of houses, streets, gov ernment buildings, composite architecture, pub lic plaza, market place, principal trade, Mazatlan River, rich merchants, hacienda of Piastla, prin cipal business men of Mazatlan, hotels, trade with Boston, Philadelphia, Few York and San Francisco; iron foundries 108 Rosario — town located in a ravine, Rosario River, excellent roads, distances, the great Tajo mine a source of wealth to the city 114 Culiacan — capital of the State, productions of this locality, cotton factory, stage road, principal business houses, Presidio of Mazatlan, ladies of Culiacan 115 Cosala — flower gardens, mining town, pecnliar dis ease, principal business of the State, legend of Estacata mine, a mine lined with ebony, haci- , enda of La Labor 116 Mining Districts and mines of Sinaloa 117 Chihuahua General description, rivers, deserts, and grazing districts; soil and productions, and graziug; climate 134 Chihuahua — capital, its origin, city well laid out, Plaza Mayor, famous cathedral, Convent of San 5 Page. Francisco, aqueduct, mint, trade, patriot Hidalgo pecuiiar duties abolished =.... 138 Las Cas Grandes and its legend 139 FromEl Paso to the city of Chihuahua 142 Los Medanos 145 From Chihuahua to Durango 146 El Paso delNorte 148 Mining Districts and mines of Chihuahua, 149 Durango Boundaries and physical features, mountains, graz ing districts, and desert lands 161 City of Durango Situated in a plain, streets pretty and regular, Plaza Mayor, public buildings, trade, "Cerro de Mercado," or Mountain of Iron, principal busi ness firms, bath houses 163 From Durango to Mazatlan "164 A Grand View 166 The Devil's Backbone 168 Short route to Mazatlan 169 Ranchode Morteros 170 Mines of Durango 171 Iron mines of Durango. *... 176 Curious Caves of Durango 181 Coahuila 182 Nuevo Leon 182 Tamaulipas 183 Arts and Manufactures 183 Imports and Exports 185 How to reach the northern part of Mexico 189 Revolutions 191 Annexation 193 Roads of northern Mexico 196 Manner of acquiring real estate « 197 Mexican Mining Laws 198 Mexican R. R. concessions 199 Mexican tariff and trade regulations 202 Trade with Mexico _ 211 How to Secure Mexican Trade . 219 Importance of Matriculation _, 222 Importance of Securing Pateuts for Inventions and Improvements in Mexico 222 Treaties between Mexico and the United States... 225 An Important Decree 225 CERRO DE MERCADO, DURANGO, MEXICO, GENEKAL DESCRIPTION OF TH^ REPUBLIC OF MEXICO. Physical Features. The Mexican Republic is a land of marvels for the scientist,, and, with its grand gorges, deep barrancas, lofty mountain peaks, beautiful valleys, elevated mesas, and ancient cities nestling among unrivaled scenery, will always be an object of interest to the traveler. Within its 1,224,996 square miles of territory, the shores of which are washed by two oceans, may be found a greater variety of scenery, climate, productions in agricultupe, and minerals than in any equal area. Its series of mountain chains and elevated plateaus, extending from the northwest to the southeast the entire length of the Republic, have yielded immense mineral wealth, and contain within them deposits of all the known metals. These two great ranges of mountains, one on the eastern and the other on the western boundary, form a continuous chain with the great mesas in the center, and slope gradually down toward the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Mexican Gulf on the other, interrupted by plateaus, on which towns are to be found on the lakes, rivers, and amidst luxuriant vegetation. The vary ing altitudes produce a diversity of climate, ranging from the cold through the temperate to the torrid, and a wonderful variety of fruits and flowers of every description, from the European apple and rose to the Cuban guava and cactus, beside other species unknown to any other country. Political Divisions and Population. The present population of the Republic, as near as can be estimated from the work of Antonio Garcia Cubas of the city of Mexico, is somewhere in the neighborhood of 9,525,000, in round numbers, taking into account an increase since 1876: divided among the different states, as follows : Sonora 125,000 Oaxaca 680,000 Coahuila .... „ . . . . 115,000 Chiapas 200,000 Chihuahua 190,000 Durango 185,000 New Leon 200,000 Zacatecas 420,000 Tamaulipas 180,000 Aguas Calientes. . . 100,000 Vera Cruz 550,000 San Luis Potosi 555,000 Tobasco .... .,„... 100,000 Guanajuato 900,000 Campeachy 95,000 Queretaro 170,000 Yucatan 350,000 Hidalgo 430,000 Sinaloa 200,000 Mexico 750,000 Jalisco 980,000 Morelos 150,000 Colima 75,000 Puebla 750,000 Michoacan 620,000 Tlaxcala 130,000 Guerrero 350,000 Total 9,500,000 With the territory of Lower California, which Antonio Garcia Cubas, in his geography of Mexico, places at 23,195, in 1874, the population of the whole republic may be esti mated at about 9,525,000, allowing an increase in Lower California, up to 1880, or about six years, of about 2,000 more. National and State Governments. Under the present Constitution of the Republic, adopted February 5th, 1857, the Government; was organized with three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial — Con gress, President and Cabinet, and Supreme and Circuit and District Courts. The supreme legislative power is vested in the Congress of the, Union, composed of a Senate and Chamber of Depu ties. The members are elected by secret ballot, deposited by Electors chosen by the people. One Elector is chosen for every five hundred inhabitants, and one for every fraction thereof, in each Congressional district. The Senators are elected at the same time as the Deputies — two for each State and one for the Federal District and Territory of Lower Cali fornia respectively. A Deputy is chosen for each 40,000 in habitants and one for every fraction over 20,000. Substitute Senators and Deputies are chosen at the same time and in the same manner. In order to be eligible for the officer of Sen ator it is requisite to be a Mexican citizen in the full exercise of his rights, thirty years of age at the opening of the session, resident of the State or Territory he represents, and not to be an ecclesiastic. The Deputies must be of the age of twenty- five years and possessed of the other qualifications demanded from Senators. Each Chamber of Congress decides with regard to the election of its members, and determines any doubts that may occur regarding the same. Over one-half the total number constitutes a quorum in the Chamber of Deputies. The quorum of the Senate consists of two-thirds of the members elected. Two ordinary sessions are held each year. The first commences on the 16th of September and terminates on the 15th of December; the second commences of the 1st day of April and ends on the last day of May. The President is elected by secret ballot by Electors, in the same manner as Senators and Deputies, taking his seat on the 1st of December, for the period of four years, and he is ineligible to a re-election to a second term without another intervening. To be eligible to this office he must be a native citizen, thirty-five years of age at time of election, and not to belong to the ecclesiastical state; and a resident of the Repulicl The Cabinet is appointed by the President, and consists of Secretaries of Foreign Relations, Treasury, War and Navy, Interior and Public Works. Eligibility to these offices re quire the candidate to be a native citizen and twenty-five years of age. The President and Cabinet constitute the Executive branch of the Government. The Judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court and Cir cuit and District Courts. The Supreme Court is composed of eleven Judges Proprietary, four Supernumeraries, one At torney-General and one Solicitor-General. The term of office is for six years. This body is also chosen by Electors. To be eligible it is necessary to be a native citizen, "instructed in the science of law in the opinion of the Electors," and over thirty-five years of age. The Judicial Circuits are eight in number, presided over by Circuit Judges, appointed by the Executive at the request of the Supreme Court. These Circuit Courts convene at the following cities: Mexico, Mazatlan, Celaya, Durango, Guadalajara, Monterey, Merida, and Puebla. There are thirty-one District Judges, dis tributed as follows: Two in Mexico, two in Tamaulipas, and one in each of the other States and Territory, appointed in the same manner as the Circuit Judges. The District-At torneys of each District and Circuit are appointed by the Executive, also. The State Governments are divided into three parts — the 10 Executive (Governor), Legislature, and Judiciary." The The Governor and Legislature are elected by the people and the Judiciary is appointed. The State Judiciary consists of a Supreme Tribunal and Courts of the First Instance and Municipal Courts; the latter are presided over in some cities by Prefects and Sub-Prefects, and in others by Alcaldes and Justices of the Peace. In relation to religious belief, Article 123 reads as follows: "It belongs exclusively to the Federal power to exercise in matters of religious belief and discipline the intervention which may be prescribed by the laws." The Constitution, laws of Congress, and treaties are, by the Constitution, de clared to be the supreme law of all the Union. It will thus be seen that much of the Mexican Constitution is modeled after our Federal Constitution, and even, in some instances, contains improvements on the same. Nominally all religions are tolerated in the Republic, al though the Roman Catholic predominates for the most part. In the large cities some of the Protestant denominations have obtained a foothold. On the overthrow of the Church party all the real estate held by the Church was confiscated, and by the Constitution of 1857 this class of property was forbid den to ecclesiastical corporations. Each State of the Feder ation is declared sovereign, and all the powers not expressly delegated to the General Government by the Constitution was reserved to the States, respectively. The Federal dis trict and Lower California are, however subject to the Gen eral Government, and controled entirely by Federal laws. The Codes originally adopted by the Federal Congress for the Federal District and Lower California have since, with some slight modifications, been adopted by most of the sev eral States, and the laws may therefore be said to be uniform in their main features throughout the Republic. The Republic was declared independent February 24th, 1821; established as an Empire, under Iturbide, in 1822, and proclaimed a Republic December 2d, 1822, by Santa Anna. Iturbide abdicated March 20th, 1823. The Republic con tains 27 States, 1 Territory, and 1 Federal District. The present Constitution was adopted February 5th, 1857. 11 Education. The principle of obligatory education is now in force in the greater part of the states of the republic, penalties hav ing been decreed for those who contravene the law, and re- .wards for those who voluntarily observe the same. Primary instruction in the schools of the republic consists of the fol lowing branches! Reading, writing, Spanish grammar, arith metic, tables of weights and measures, morality, and good manners; and moreover, in the girls' schools, needlework and other useful labors. In some of the states the study of geography, national history, and drawing are also obligatory; whilst, in the schools that are not supported by the govern ment, a knowledge of algebra and geometry is taught, with the elements of general and natural history, ornamental and lineal drawing, and the French language. The number of primaVy schools in the whole of the republic reaches 8,103. Of the number referred to, according to the work of Seiior Diaz Covarrubias, 603 are supported by the state gov ernments, 5,240 by the municipal authorities, 378 by private corporations or individuals, 117 by the Catholic clergy, be sides 1,581 private establishments that are not gratuitous, and 184 not classified. These schools are attended by schol ars of both sexes. Secondary instruction, as well as profes sional education, are under the charge of the state, with subjection to the programmes established by the law, which prescribes as a mandate the liberty of education and profes sions. In the republic there are 105 establishments of secondary and professional instruction. These embrace preparatory schools, civil colleges of jurisprudence, s.hools of medicine and pharmacy,(no one can practice medicine or keep a drug store without a diploma from the government) schools for en gineers, naval schools, commercial schools, academies of arts and sciences, agricultural schools, academies of fine arts, con servatories of music and oratory, military colleges, concilia tory seminaries supported by the Catholic clergy, blind school, deaf and dumb school, and secondary schools for girls. In these latter, mathematics, cosmography, geography, domestic medicine, history and chronology, book-keeping, domestic economy, and duties of women in society, natural, figured, and ornamented drawing, manual labors, horticulture and gardening, music, the French and Italian languages — cer- 12 tainly, a young lady who graduates in these schools may be said to be accomplished, and our female seminaries might find some suggestions in a finished education. The whole number of educational establishments is 8,208, with 364,809 pupils. Besides these are eight model schools; 285,509 males and 79,300 females receive instruction, and this does not include the education under private tutors. There are 20 public libraries in the state, containing, in the whole, 236,000 volumes; and private libraries, containing from 1,000 to 8,000 works, are innumerable; and there are some with as many as 20,000, and collections of manuscripts and books upon history and travels, literature, law, biography, elo quence, encyclopedias, classic authors, mathematics, phys ical sciences, and antiquities, relating to America, Asia, Egypt and Nubia. The most remarkable museums of the Republic are those of antiquities in Mexico, Campeche, Puebla and Merida; those of paintings in Mexico, Oaxaea and Puebla; those of natural history in Guadalajara and Mexico. The Na tional Museum of Mexico, to which is annexed that of Natural History, contains a rich collection of Mexican antiq uities, hieroglyphics, manuscripts, arms, utensils, idols, jewels, and every species of ornaments. The Museum of Natural History at the Mining College, now the School of Engineers, is composed of two cabinets. In the first, there is a well classified collection of geological specimens, and another of zoology, which contains a large assortment^ In the second, are found two collections of minerals from Europe and Mexico, arranged according to the chemical mineralogical system of Berzelius. The Academy of San Carlos, named in honor of Carlos the Third, of Spain, is one of the most notable institutions of the City of Mexico. It contains several galleries, where nu merous original and valuable old Spanish and Italian paint ings are to be se%n. Among others, are works of Leonardo de Vinci, Murillo, Vernet, Coglietti, Canova, Van Dyck, Cor- tona, Perugino, Ingres, Decaen, Reni Marko, and other works of Podesti and Silvagni, and several of the Flemish and Dutch schools. In the other saloons are to be seen the paintings of some of the most proficient students of the Academy; also, many remarkable paintings of ancient Mexican artists, as Cobreza, Aguilero, the Juarez family, Ybarra , Arteaga, Vallejo, Echave, and others. In the republic there exist 73 institutions dedicated to 13 the cultivation of arts and sciences, of which 29 are scien tific, 21 literary, 20 artistical, and three of a mixed char acter. Resources of Mexico. There are now being established, in the greater part of the states of Mexico, cotton, woolen, silk, earthenware, glass, and paper factories, which will add to her present prosper ity. If all this great territory were populated, even in pro portion to Guanajato and its territory, the census of the republic would reach 58,000,000 to 60,000,000, instead of only 9,000,000 to 10,000,000. This scarcity of population is the one great cause of the undevelopment of the vast agricultural resources of Mexico; and when they are fully developed, they will constitute an element of enormous wealth. Within the territory of the republic, there are more than 5700 haciendas, (landed estates) and 13,800 farms, (ranchos) and not a few other locations, of immense extent. The value assigned to landed property, based simply on its valu ation for taxes, is $161,397,311. The real value may be said to be doublethat amount, or about $323,000,000. The maize which is grown all over the territory, the wheat in the upper table-lands, the rice in the warm and damp sec tions, the coffee, vanilla, tobacco, sugar, and cotton in the hot countries, and many other articles, among which may be mentioned the "agave Mexicano," with its abundant returns, constitute the principal branches of national agri culture, and the annual products may be safely estimated at $100,000,000. If colonies were settled in this vast territory, employing their activity and intelligence in making such rich and extensive lands productive, under the influence of the varieties of climate, the benefits derived to Mexico are almost incalculable. The rich and varied mineral productions of the republic have placed its mines in the niche of fame; and were it not for the scarcity of population before mentioned, they would produce a revenue that has never been dreamed of, in the imaginations of their Spanish conquerors. The mines of Guanajato, which have been the most worked, and yielded enormously, still present immense wealth, with no signs of their being exhausted. The soil of Guerrero has been pronounced, by a Spanish mineralogist as one extensive crust of silver and gold. This seems like exaggeration, yet it has in a measure proved to be true in 14 the immense deposits there found. In Sinaloa the waters have submerged rich treasures, some of which have been rediscovered. The states of Zacateeas, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Mexico, and Michoacan contain with in their mountain ranges veins of gold and silver in inex haustible riches. Although the best portion of the mineral district lies in the northern states of the republic, yet throughout its whole territory metaliferous deposits are found. Silver and gold are mostly worked, while the other mentis and mineral substances, tuch as copper, iron, zinc, lead, magistral, antimony, arsenic, cobalt, amianthus, and copperas are almost neglected. The mountain of Popocata- petl is said to be one vast pile of sulphur. Salt mines are found at Penon Blanco, in San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and in the islands of the Gulf of California. The Lake of Texcoco and its adja cent lands possess an extensive supply of carbonate of soda. In every state there exist quarries of white and colored mar ble. The alabaster of Tecali, in the state of Puebla, has at tracted great attention, and the extensive coal-fields, platina, and quicksilver mines all add to the wealth of this great ter ritory. Precious stones are not unknown; the opal with as varied and beautiful hues as those of Hungary, the turquoise, garnet, topaz, agate, and amethyst besides, are found exten sively in many places. Building stone of a great variety is plentiful, from which magnificent structures may be built. Aside from the amount of ores that are worked outside of the republic on account of the law permitting free exporta tion of mineral ores, the annual coinage in gold, silver, and copper is on an average of $20,500,000, and the whole amount of coinage since the establishment of the mints up to 1875 being $3,001,237,281.02. In the colonial period (1537 to 1821): Silver, $2,082,260,657.44; gold, $68,778,- 411; copper, $542,893.37— total, $2,151,581,961.81. Since the independence, or establishment of the republic (1822 to 1875): Silver, $797,055,080.71; gold, $47,327,383.11; cop per, $5,272,855.93 — total, $340,655,319.84. Total silver $2,879,315,738.21; gold, $llG, 105,794.11; copper, $5,815,- 740.30. Grand total, $3,001,237,281.62. Within the la?tfive years, since the investment of addition al foreign capital, the amount additional, on the average of twenty and one-half millions a year as the lowest estimate would reach $102,500,000 more, which would make the' sum total in 1880, $3,103,737,281.62 as the amount coined by the republic of Mexico. 15 To show the increase of production, from the records of the mints, we herewith give 'the amount coined up to 1865, to compare with the amount coined in 1875, from official records, the first being taken from "El Minero Mexicano" of December 2nd, 1880, and the second or latter from Cubas' valuable work, which he claims to have obtained from the records at the mints. Amount of Money Coined in the Republic of Mexico from 1772 to 1865. In the Hints of Silver. Gold. Total. $2,163,836,764 1,321,64E 15,626,400 12,795,50535,294,581 28,288,333 164,691,216 48,745,584 910,927 204,234,941 2,063,9581,551,249 959,116 $77,753,472 1,286,095 4,735,283 3,139,889 754,487 15,094,529 236 120 650,008 2,811,104 203,534 $2,241,590,237 1,321,545 16,912 495 17,530,791 38,434,470 29,042,820 179,685,746 48,746,584 1,147,046 204,784,949 4,375,062 1,551,249 1,162,650 1865— Total ., $2,680,220,119 $106,064,534 $2,786,28*,654 1876 — Total amount coined from 1772 $3,001,237,281 62 1865— " " deducted 2,786,284,654 00 Increase in 10 years $214,952,627 62 (or about $21,495,262.76 cents ammally.) The average annual production of the mines of Sonora, from 1835 to 1842, was given by Francisco Velasco at a rough estimate of $1,500,000 annually, or $10,500,000 during the period of seven years. In 1828, Don Juan M. Eiesago estimated the annual production at $2,000,000. The laws originally demanded that all bullion should be brought to Mexico to be coined, and the cost of carrying was so great that the rich mines in these border States be came almost neglected by capitalists, and the poorer ones nearest to Mexico City were mostly worked. This resulted in the smuggling of bullion out of the mines in the northern states of the republic, and no record could be kept at the mints, of those mines— in fact, there are no reliable records that give any account of the exports of bullion either from Mazatlan or Guaymas, although some records exist covering 16 the last few years; while it is well known that the mines in those States have been extensively worked in certain locali ties for over a century. Lower California. This embraces a territory or peninsula, washed on its western shores by the Pacific Ocean, and east by the Gulf of California. Its area is over 60,000 square miles. Its capital is La Paz, which is the principal town. The whole of the center is traversed' by a" volcanic range of mountains of the Sierra Nevada. It is bounded on the north by California and north-east by the Colorado River, di viding it from Sonora. The soil is generally not productive, though, at the base of the mountains and in small valleys, where the decompo sition of lava has been going on for ages, it possesses an in credible fecundity. The formation of the whole State is volcanic, and the coast subject to storms. The scarcity of rivers bars much of its prosperity. The productions are maize, manioc, wheat, beans, etc. ; grapes, from which wine of a very rich flavor is produced; oranges, limes, lemons, citrons, prunes, dates, figs, pine apples, bananas, plantains, and other tropical fruits; stock of various kinds graze in the valleys, consisting of horses, sheep, cattle, goats and hogs. Fish, in its waters, abound to a great extent, such as halibut, salmon, turbot, skate, pilchard, large oysters, thornback, mackerel, cod, lobsters, etc., and pearl oysters. The pearl fishery is much pursued at La Paz. In this region, a gold mine has been worked to some extent. There are about SO towns in the state, six bays on the east coast and ten on the west, twelve islands in the gulf, and eight west of the coast. The territory of Lower California is divided into eight municipalities— La Paz, San Jose de Comondu, Mulege, Santo Tomas, San Antonio, Todos Santos, Santiago, San Jose" del Cabo. Population, 25,000. La Paz, the capital, has about 3,000 inhabitants This territory is about to be colonized, as we learn from the " Diario Official ' that a contract has been signed by the Acting Secretary of Public Works, in virtue whereof, Messrs. J. Kelly & Co., of Mazat'an, engage themselves to' colonize 36 000 hectares of public lands in Lower Cali. fornia. 17 The Climate of the Table Lands of the Northern Part of Mexico. The altitude of the table lands of Mexico has a marked effect upon the climate. In the summer the thermometer records a mean temperature of 85 degrees at El Paso, 3800 feet above the sea. It sometimes reaches 105 degrees in July. The constant breezes, however, make the heat more bearable. In December — the middle of the winter season — the mean temperature is about 48 degrees, the mercury fall ing sometimes to 5 degrees below zero. Snow falls some times two feet in depth, and ice forms a solid sheet on the Rio Grande, andthe streams are sometimes frozen to a con siderable depth, strong enough to bear a heavy mule team and loaded wagon. The frosts are severe, therefore, and grapevines at El Paso and other points have to be protected by burying in the earth from eighteen inches to two feet beneath the surface. The Rio Grande generally freezes so as to make the fording an impossibility during the coldest weather. The whole of the table lands is subject to ex tremely cold weather, and travelers not only often suffer se verely but actually perish from the cold when not carefully protected. In the mining region of Jesus Maria, in Chihua hua, the ice frequently forms to a considerable thickness in the houses. The rainfall reaches from six to fourteen and fifteen inches, and when accompanied by sleet and snow makes traveling anything but pleasant in the face of some of the winter storms that sweep over the elevated plains. Travelers recount some very disagreeable experiences in midwinter traveling. Mr. Ruxton speaks of riding through one of these storms when his blanket, used as a protection against the storm, froze stiff and hard as a board while he he was in the midst of a storm of sleet and rain. His feet were frozen, and he came near perishing. Stopping and squatting upon the ground, having lost his way in the night, he drew his blanket around him as best he could, and re mained till near morning in that position, with his blanket over his head. He says that before morning he was com pletely snowed in, the snow being over his head on a level. From this we should judge that the climate of these table lands may be said to be somewhat similar to the climate of the Mississippi Valley, bordering Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. The statement, therefore, that the climate of Mexico is trop ical will not apply to these table lands. In most of the min ing regions of this portion of Mexico snow falls and ice forms. 18 All the mines of any value or located in the mountains or cold regions. Durango, Coahuila and part of New Leon and Tamaulipas have about the same climate as in Chihuahua, with a less proportion of snow in New Leon and Tamaulipas. The table lands are healthy, and the air is pure and bracing. The altitude produces every variety of climate on the plateaus until the low lands or plains are. reached, when tropical features alone prevail. The low, marshy regions are to be avoided not only on account of the "vomito" — the scourge of those regions — but, also tHe malarial fevers which make such localities dangerous for the settler. The climate of Chihuahua City is about the same as at El Paso, with perhaps more cold weather, since the altitude is higher, and the mountains adjacent reaching several thou sand feet above the level of the plain, and in the winter time are perpetually covered with snow. The peak of Jesus Ma ria, in the southwestern portion of the State, is 8456 feet above the sea, and La Tarumara 8340. The city of Durango, Humboldt says, is about 6845 feet above the sea, and the Cerro de Mercado, or Iron Mountain, adjacent is 8220 feet, making the climate, consequently, from the altitude and sur- roundiugs, cold in the winter season, with considerable snow and ice prevailing. In the mountainous part of Sinaloa the same may be said, though the altitude of the whole State is much lower, since the highest peaks, viz., La Bayona and Cabeza de Caballo, make only 5614 and 4365 feet respectively above the sea. In New Leon, EI de la Silla and Sierra de Gomez are 7800 and 6602 feet respecti vely above the sea level. The State of Tamaulipas has the highest mountain peaks ot any of the Northern States of Mexico. Los Gallitos is the highest, being 9633 feet, while Orcasitas is 7562 and El Me- tate 7144 feet above the sea. Sr. Don Perez Hernandez, in his work published in 1862, gives much valuable information, from which we extract the above figures. Ruxton says. "The City of Mexico is 7470 feet above the sea level, and La Villa de Leon 6020, thus showing that the table land of Mexico does not decline so suddenly as is imag ined. Indeed, excepting in the plains of Salamanca and Silao, there is no perceptible difference in the temperature, and, I believe, in reality but little in elevation in the vast region between the capital and Chihuahua. Snow falls here oc casionally, and the mercury is sometimes seen below the freezing point. For the greater part of the year, however, the heat is excessive, and a low, intermittent fever prevails." SONORA. CHAPTER I. Boundaries and General Description. The name of Sonora is derived from "Sonot," an Opata Indian name, which means "Sefiora," an appellation bestow ed by the Spanish conquerors upon an Indian woman who treated them with great hospitality, when they visited the settlements of that tribe. The Indians, in attempting to imitate the Spaniards, pronounced the word "Sonora." The State comprises nine districts: Hermosillo, at which is located the capital; Ures, the former capital; Guaymas, Alamosf Magdalena, Altar, Oposura or Moctezuma and Sahuaripa. The state originally extended its boundaries from the river "de las Caflas " on the south, to the river Gila on the north. The southern boundary extended then from the state of Jalisco on the south to Arizona, and in cluded a part of the same. Yuma, with Tucson and other towns and ranchos south of the river Gila, were originally included in the state. The state was then 1,395 miles in length, but in 1830 it was divided, aud the south-eastern boundary fixed 54 miles south of the city of Alamos, on the border of the Mesquite rancho. This constituted the di viding line between the states of Sonora and Sinaloa; the distance from the former capital, Ures, to the southern boundary being 354 miles. The northern boundary ex tended to the Gila River, until the boundary line between the United States and Mexico was fixed south of the same river. The length of the state is about 700 miles. Mean breadth from the state of Chihuahua on the east to the Gulf of Cal ifornia on the west is about 300 miles. The exact measure ment is not known, as the state has never been completely surveyed. The most narrow breadth between Mesquite and Alamos is about 120 miles. The area in square miles is about 123,466. The general direction of the state is from north-west to 20 south-east, along the Gulf of California. Its whole western boundary, from the mouth of the river Colorado on the north, extends along the coast south-east to Sinaloa. It is bounded on the north by Arizona and New Mexico. Along the coast the surface is diversified by valleys, plains, and foot-hills. Some of the plains are 30 to 40 miles, some reaching to 90 miles, in extent. In the neighborhood of the Sierra Madre mountains it is lofty and broken. The surface may be said to possess three distinct features outside of the mountainous district. First, dry plains; second, elevated plateaus, or ta ble lands; and third, agricultural valleys, or bottom lands. The dry plains are located in the north-western part of the state, between the head-waters of the Gulf of California, and the valley of Santa Cruz, bordering upon Arizona in the north. The table lands lie in the north-eastern part of the state, extending from the Santa Cruz valley and the source of the Bapetito River, the main branch of the Yaqui on the west, to the base of the Sierra Madre mountains, which ex tend along the boundary line between the state and Chi huahua. From Guaymas to the northern border line, the surface is generally level, diversified here and there by isolate^ moun tains, conical or table-topped, which give graudeur to the landscape, without occupying much arable area. The soil is of great depth and richness, resembling in many locali ties the famous brazos of Texas, but happily exempt from the malarias of the latter. In the interior, plains and valleys of immense extent are crossed by the traveler, in some instances 200 miles in length. The largest fiver of the state is the Yaqui, or Buenavista, which is only navigable for flat-boats in high water. The riVer Mayo may also be mentioned. Both of these rivers empty into the Gulf of California. The source of each is in the copious springs of the Sierra Madre, and they are never dry in the seasons of most drought. The river Sonora or Arispe passes through Ures and Her- mosillo, and loses its waters in the sandy plains of Siete Cer- ritos, about 21 miles west of Hermosillo. The Horcasitas, or Rayon, a small stream, joins the Sonora about five miles east of Hermosillo. The same stream is also called Opodepe and Cucurpe. The Oposura, Aribechi, Santa Cruz, San Jose de Pimas, Tecoripa, Altar, and Caborca, are mere creeks, fordablewhen their waters are high, and almost en tirely disappear in dry seasons, some of them entirely sink ing in the sands. The Colorado River on the north-west ex- 21 tends along but a small part of the boundary. There are many sand-plains along the coast, as well as large sterile tracts in the interior, and only on the banks of the streams or river bottoms are the lands capable of irrigation. The principal sand-plain extends from the mouth of the Colorado to the Salinas Bay near port La Libertad. The only port suitable for commerce is that of Guaymas, to which we will call particular attention hereafter. Some trade is also done at La Libertad. In Santa Cruz de Mayo, of the department of Alamos, in the southern part of the state, there is a small bay or roadstead called the port of Santa Cruz. That portion lying between Mesquite on the south along the base of the Sierra Madre, extending north to the ancient capital city Arispe, is sterile in places, but has never been completely explored by surveying or civil engineers, while the region further north is, in places, very fertile. This territory will demand a more particular description hereafter. The most valuable agricultural lands are situated on the banks of the rivers and creeks, or river bottoms. Irrigation is necessary for almost the entire territory, either natural or artificial. The yield in this case is vastly greater than is produced in countries where the sole dependence is rain. The dry plains are generally level, with a hard sur face, and adapted for purposes of wagon-roads and railroads. Experience has shown that artesian well-water may be ob tained. The arid spots cannot be cultivated. The table lands are covered with a short and luxuriant grass, upon which immense herds of cattle have been and may still be raised. < We herewith give the following from the pen of an able Spanish writer, Velasco, who impartially describes the state, in his valuable work on Sonora, which has been translated by Mr. Nye. Page 14: " The most thickly settled places are upon the banks of the rivers and creeks, while at the interior settlements be tween Alamos and Hermosillo, there is so great a scarcity of water on the roads that the traveler is compelled to carry a supply with him. It is not uncommon to travel eight or even sixteen leagues, (about three miles to the league) with out finding a stream or a place where water may be procured by digging. On that part of the coast called Tiburon, to the west of Hermosillo, the distance between watering-places is still greater, and the supply more scanty, and on the old road of Cieneguilla, which is from fifty to sixty leagues in length, 22 there are but three watering-places, including one well. On the road from Hermosillo to the port of Guaymas, in the dry season, no water is to be had for thirty-six leagues, ex cept at La Posa and La Cieneguilla, and it is occasionally so scarce at these places that foot passengers perish from thirst. The coast is so dry that the rancheros have sunk wells in different parts of it, thirty and forty yards in depth, without finding moisture. The region between Arispe and the Gila, however, is well watered by uumerous creeks, and abounds in pools and swamps, and the mountains are well supplied with water, and timber of various kinds, such as cedar, pine, evergreen oak, ebony, etc.; well stocked with deer and birds, and containing medicinal herbs of marvelous efficacy, one of which, called ; colorada,' is used by the Apaches for the treatment of wounds. The valleys are expansive and beautiful, abundantly watered, and clothed in verdure dur ing the entire year; and nature has lavished her vegetable and mineral wealth upon these frontier regions with so prod igal a hand that they may well be called the Paradise of Sonora. The inscrutable decree of the Almighty has be stowed them upon savages,- incapable of appreciating or en joying his munificent gift." Thus we see the region north-east and bordering upon the State of Chihuahua, outside of the valleys of the Yaqui and Mayo rivers, is the best portion of the state, and iucludes the valleys and foot-hills of the Sierra Madre. In this re gion there are now many cattle-ranches of large extent, that may be purchased at very low rates, we should judge, tak ing our data from the prices prevailing in Sonora. The mineral belt also extends through this region, including valuable mines of gold and silver, galena and coal, to which we will giye a more extensive description hereafter, under the title of " Mining Districts and Mines." CHAPTER II. 1. Climate. The climate is varied in the mountain region from ex treme heat to the freezing point. In the winter season, the cold weather commences in the latter part of October, and reaches the lowest degree, or freezing point, from Novem- 23 ber to March. Ice sometimes appears in October, but not usually till November or December. In the settlements nearest the mountains the frosts set in earlier than in the interior. In the latter region, three or four years often pass without any frost, especially near the coast. This is true of Hermosillo, Buena Vista, Alamos, and in the valleys of the rivers Yaqui and Mayo. The warm season commences in May, and the heat becomes extreme during the months of June, July, and August. At Hermosillo, Guaymas, Ures, Buena Vista, and San Antonio de la Huerta, the mercury reaches above one hun dred degrees during the months last mentioned. In Sep tember refreshing rains fall, and continue during the winter season. A hot wind occasionally visits Hermosillo during the months of June, July, and August, which blows from eleven in the morning till four in the afternoon, during which hours business practically ceases. The inhabitants seek shelter in their houses, and no one ventures forth un less driven by necessity. These hot winds are a 'terror to the Sonorians, and they remember, with some degree of ap prehension, a time in which the wind scorched the skin like the heat of a furnace, and drove the hares, deer, coyotes, and other wild animals to the settlements for refuge, while plants and trees were literally scorched out at the root. This "viento caliente," or hot wind, also springs upon Guay mas suddenly sometimes, and blows for twenty-four hours without intermission. On reaching the coast it meets the damp and cooler atmosphere, and by the time it passes about, three miles over the gulf, its heat is absorbed, and it vanishes. Water may be kept cool, however, in jars, even during the prevalence of this wind. In the beginning of June the poorer classes abandon the interior of their adobe houses, and sleep in the corridors or court-yards. Others often sleep in the streets before their doors, for the heat is insufferable within their houses. At Hermosillo and some other towns a southern breeze springs up about eight o'clock, and continues during the night, making the attempt to sleep more bearable ; but, if the breeze fails to put in an appearance, the sleepy god is courted in vain. At Arispe, Bacuachi, and Frontreras, the winter lasts longer than the summer ; and at Santa Cruz, near the northern boundary of the state, the altitude of the surrounding mountains is such, that the temperature varies from the cool and pleasant to the freezing point. Serious epidemics are unknown; and at Hermosillo the only dis- 24 eases that prevail, and that to a limited extent, are phthisis and diarrhea. On the rivers Oposura and Sahuaripar "goitre," or swelled neck, appears on the necks of men, but mostly on the women. The disease is called "buche" by the Spaniards. Intermittent fevers often prevail, prob- , ably caused by the immoderate use of fruit, in the interior; but they are of short continuance. We may justly affirm that the climate is, on the whole, salubrious, and is really more healthy than that of the adjoining States, or the cen tral part of the republic. The atmosphere is pure and dry, entirely free from malaria, with but one exception, in the neighborhood of Sauta Cruz, where the adjacent swamps- sometimes induce fever. The interior of the State is en tirely free from noxious vapors. The air is pure and healthy, sweeping over the plains and through valleys from the sier ras and the sea. In Guaymas, Matape, Horcositas, Arispe, and Altar, per sons are found who have attained to ages ranging over a century. The average duration of life, with the observance of prudence and temperance, ranges from seventy to eighty years, says Velasco. " Owing to the practice of vaccination,. small-pox rarely makes its appearance. Venereal diseases are not common, except in the neighborhood of the rivers Yaqui and Mayo, and on the coast. Catarrhs frequently ap pear in a mild form during the changes of the seasons. One may sleep in the open air with perfect impunity, and experience no inconvenience. The diseases that affect chil dren are diarrhea, intermittent fevers, vomiting, ophthalmia,. eruptions of the face, and other difficulties that accompany teething. These diseases, owing to the lack of medical skill, produce a mortality among children that carries off one-fourth from birth up to the period of teething, annually. After this critical period, good health generally attends them to the age of puberty." 2. Soil and Productions. The soil along the coast, from the valley or delta of the Colorado to the Altar or Magdalena River, is mostly unfit for productions of any kind, and the land south of the Altar River is used for grazing purposes, from the port of La Lib ertad on the coast, in places where the sand plains are not prevalent, to the Yaqui River. The exceptions are on the Altar or Magdalena Creek or river and its branch the San Ignacio, and the river Sonora. Wherever no streams exist, 25 it may be safely said the soil cannot be cultivated. Very good grazing lands are found occasionally, from La Libertad to Guaymas or in its neighborhood. On the San Ignacio, sweet and sour oranges, lemons, citrons, limes, pomegranates, and peaches are raised. The territory between the San Igna cio and the river Altar, produces cotton of excellent quality. Several large plantations are in this vicinity, one of which is devoted to the raising of this valuable production. Cotton- mills are here erected, owned by the Ortizes of Hermosillo. Also the "guava" is cultivated, and the plantain-tree at tains a large size, bearing a heavy burden of fruit. In and around the territory of Hermosillo large vineyards are located, from which considerable quantities of "agua- diente " or brandy and wine are produced. Wheat is also grown in this locality, with beans, lentils, Chili peppers, garlic, onions, and sweet potatoes. The fruits are abundant, and the grape, muskmelons, and watermelons, are raised of excellent quality. Orchards containing figs, apples, peaches, pears, apricots, etc. , are found in this neighborhood. Cotton was first experimented upon in 1811, but was soon after abandoned, and was again continued in 1842, and carried On up to the present time at from 12 to 20 miles west of Her mosillo, on the plantations of Tennaje and Palomos, and at Chiuo Gordo, 12 miles east. Sugar is produced from the cane, on the coast near the Yaqui River, and at San Ignacio and Ceris. The average yield of wheat is 250 to 300 from one bushel sown, upon the haciendas of Messrs. Antisernes, called the Topahui, and upon the haciendas of Hermosillo it rates from 150 to 175 from one. Indian corn and beans are extensively grown at San Antonio, Santa Rosa, on the rivers Sonora and Yaqui and Santa Cruz, and other locali ties. The bottom lands of the Yaqui, Mayo, and lands bor dering upon the Sonora and Santa Cruz rivers, produce wheat, also. On the river Yaqui, beans, lentils, sugar-cane, cotton, flax, indigo plant, coffee, tobacco, and various kinds of fruits, are raised. Sheep and cattle and horses in immense herds are raised, as well as many domestic fowls. The to bacco has a narrow leaf, owing to the lack of proper culti vation. Extensive salt-pits are also situated near the mouth of the river Yaqui, on the coast. In the same place, and in the mouth of the river Yaqui, are located the great oyster-beds of common and pearl oysters. The distance from Coccori to Cochori is about 90 miles, across the valley of the river Yaqui. The whole of this tract of land is susceptible of a 26 high degree of cultivation. We will give, hereafter, a special description of this region. The soil is here moist and alluvial, capable of raising all the productions of the temperate and tropic zones. The irrigation is produced by annual overflows of the river, and suffices for the produc tion of wheat, maize, and every class of productions yet ex perimented upon. This section may well be compared to the rich lauds of Egypt lying along the banks of the Nile. Immense sugar plantations may be here established, and produce fortunes for the possessor. The best portion of this land has been granted by the republic to a gentleman re siding in Mexico. Near Altar, on the Magdalena or Altar river, pomegranates, figs, aud grapes are raised, and immense herds of horses and cattle are seen grazing in. the vicinity; also extensive ranchos that are exceedingly fertile are here located. In the northern part of the state, near Santa Cruz , is lo cated a beautiful vallej7, clothed in verdure the year round. It is well watered by the Santa Cruz River, that takes its rise from a perpetual spring located t > the north of the valley. Immense quantities of stock are here raised, and all kinds of grain, especially wheat, which is of excellent quality. It also produces the best red pepper of the state, aud its hides find a ready market. The distance from Santa Cruz to Villa de Guadalupe, by way of Occua, Santa Ana, Santa Maria, San Lorenzo, and Magdalena, is 120 miles. When heavy clothing is necessary at Santa Cruz, other parts of the state are subjected to immense heat. Many swamps are in the vicinity, which produce fevers. The Presidio of Bacuachi raises cattle, sheep, and horses, and produces good wheat, which is mostly grown, owing to the early frosts. Near the Presidio of Fronteras, the lands produce excellent wheat, maize, etc.; also, delicious peaches* apples, and the famous bergamot pear. A creek runs through this valley, which is used to irrigate the neighboring lands. Wild game is abundant in the neighborhood. The plains adjacent are all fertile and well watered. The climate is cool and healthy, and would be an excellent place to es tablish a colony. Indeed, the whole of the north-eastern part of the state presents advantages that no other part of the state combines. It is well timbered, has abundance of water, and is one of the richest mineral regions of the state. To convince one of the remarkable resources of the state, a visit to the Hacienda de la Alameta, fifteen miles from Hermosillo, owned formerly by the Artazernes, will be suf- 27 ficient to satisfy the most skeptical. On the Alameta are miles of wheat, corn, and sugar-cane, and cotton. On this hacienda is erected a flour-mill of the best description, with abundance of water power, and a sugar-mill and works, a manufactory of blankets — the wool of which, and the dye- ¦ stuffs, are grown on the place. A wagon manufactory, car ried on for the sole use of the hacienda, is also located in its limits. Tobacco also is produced of excellent quality. Or anges, lemons, pomegranates, and other tropical fruits of de licious flavor are grown in abundance. These places are simply principalities, where a man has all the products of the earth under tribute and at hand. The large cotton-mill near La Labor, at San Miguel, was offered to San Francisco capitalists on liberal terms, but was purchased by the Ortizes of Hermosillo. The cotton is raised at its very door. Indigo, brazil-wood, cochineal, and other dye-stuffs, grow spontaneously on the Yaqui and Mayo rivers; also coffee of the best quality. The agricultural resources we thus see are rich beyond that of any state in the Republic of Mexico. If the state were well settled by an energetic clasi of immigrants, the future of this famous state would be of the most flattering character. We anticipate jus . such an immigration on the completion of the Southern Pacific and ; anta F6" Railroads. We shall hereafter give some attention to the railroads of the state. CHAPTER m. Guaymas. The port of Guaymas is situated on the Gulf of California, about sixty miles above the mouth of the river Yaqui, in lati tude 27 cleg. 22 min. north, and longitude 104 deg. 30 min. west of Cadiz. It is completely sheltered from the sea, and is one of the best harbors on the Pacific. The entrance runs north and south, and is formed by the island of Pajaras on the east, and the islands of San Vicente, Pitayas, and Tierra Firma on the west. There is also another entrance, called Boca Chica, formed by the island of Pajaras on the south, and the beach of Cochin on the north. The length of the bay is from four to five miles. The bottom is muddy, and 28 when vessels remain for some time it is necessary to sight the anchor every fortnight. The depth of water at the island of Pajaras is seven fathoms, which gradually decreases to two, along the side of the mole. The latter, according to the opinion of mariners, is one of the best on the Pacific, excepting that of Callao. The depth of water at the an chorage is three fathoms ; and vessels drawing fifteen feet are loaded, discharged, and hove down with facility. There are three landing-places, but no fortifications, although there are several points well suited to the purpose. The tides are irregular and uncertain, being influenced by the winds from the gulf. In time of full and new moon they rise and fall eighteen to twenty inches ; and in the autumnal equinox, about four feet. Sailing-vessels are often delayed by calms in passing up the gulf to reach the harbor ; but since the era of steamships has arrived, it will have no appre ciable effect on the commerce of the port, save only with sailing-vessels. The harbor abounds in various kinds of delicate fish and shell-fish. The latter comprises the shrimp, crab, lobster, oyster, and mussels of different kinds. The town is situated on the north of the bay, and is surrounded by a range of hills of moderate height, which leaves but one single entrance from the land side. There is but one prin cipal street, called " Calle Principal," from the entrance to the Plaza ; the others being short and narrow. The soil is dry and rocky. The climate is not severe in winter ; but the north and north-west winds blow with great violence, and cause much inconvenience. The summer heat is exces sive ; the thermometer occasionally rising up to 104 deg. in the shade, and never falling below 90 deg., from June to September ; and when the north wind blows during this season from the dry aud parched land lying adjacent and north of the city, it is so dry and parching in its effects that it ruins the finer articles of furniture. "The health of the place is good. Water, for drinking, is drawn from four pub lic wells on the skirts of the town, which is carried in carts and on the backs of donkeys, in leather bags. There are no trees in Guaymas but a few stunted ones in the Plaza. In the suburbs is a large orange-grove planted by Mr. John A. Robinson of this city, who resided some fifty years in Sonora. The grove is now owned by Mr. N. Graff, of Guay mas. Wood is scarce, and is brought from nine to fifteen miles from the interior ; also from the river Yaqui in boats, by the Indians, and constitutes the only fuel ; it is sold by the "carga," or load. There are two kinds of carga — the 29 " burro," or donkey carga of 150 pounds ; and "mule " carga of 300 ; 50 sticks, or billets, as thick as the wrist, are counted out, 18 iuches long, for the "burro" carga, and sell for 25 cents per carga ; aud the same number of twice that length for the "mule" carga, and a corresponding price is demanded. The wagom used are the latest im proved, although one sees occasionally the awkward cart coming in from the ranchos with wheels hewed or sawed off the end of a log. The houses are mostly adobe, with here and there a substantial brick building. There are about one-half dozen wholesale importing houses, and quite a num ber of retail houses. The former import direct from Europe and the United States. Lumber is scarce, and is brought from San Francisco and Pnget Sound. It sells from thirty to fifty dollars per thousand. Lumber is admitted free of duty. There are no banks either in Guaymas or in the State of Sonora ; and business is carried on with foreigners by ordi nary bills of credit, and by drafts on San Francisco, Loudon, Hamburg, aud Paris banks. The principal business firms are Aguilar & Co., Sandoval & Bulle, Domingo Carrez, G. B. Fourcade, W. Iberri, Arvillez & Co., J. J. Rodgers, Luis Jarequi, Ramon Carrizosa, Aguayo Bros., Echiquyen & Esco- bos, and some others, who do a large wholesale as well as retail trade. An agency of Wells Fargo is the only American institu tion finding a foothold in Sonora. The American Consul is also stationed at Guaymas. There are quite a number of hotels, among which might be mentioned, " Cosmopolitan '' and " Hotel de Guaymas." There is also a shoe manufactory, a soap factory, an ice factory, one Roman Catholic church, and public and private schools. It is not generally known that compulsory educa tion is one of the Mexican institutions. Courts of the first and second instance, a hospital, and a railroad depot, are also found i n Guaymas, of A. T. & S. F. R, R. The popula tion is about 5,000. The Atchinson, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, called the Sonora Railway, commences at Ardilla Island, so called, and runs north, crossing a bridge across a portion of the bay near the old rancho of Guaymas. The land is level beyond this point for ten miles, and' no grading is necessary. The completion of this railway will add to the commercial importance of Guaymas, and it will open up one of the richest portions of the Republic. Capital is flow ing along the line of the railroad, and new towns are being established with the accustomed energy of pioneer settle ments. 30 East of the town, the country is more adapted to agricult ure and grazing. East and south-east, commencing about sixty miles distant, are located the rich bottom land3 of the Yaqui River, which supply the town with fowls, sheep, and grain. Flour and meat are brought from the interior; San Antonio and Santa Rosa furnishing corn and beans for the Guaymas market. Hides aud bullion, flour, and, in fact, nearly all the exports of the state, are shipped at this point. There are two Justices of the Peace, a judge of the first in stance, and a prefect and board of aldermen. The custom house is very much lacking in store-houses and offices. The future of Guaymas is yet to come, through the energy and industry of foreign capitalists and immigrants. This will remain the port of the state on the gulf, and it will hold its influence upon the commercial relations of Souora. It will eventually be the most important town in the state. The railroad will soon connect it with San Francisco and the East. Another road is in contemplation, connecting it with Mazat lan in the state of Sinaloa, and from thence to the City of Mexico, which we will notice more particularly hereafter. A new port, La Li bertad, above Guaymas, has been opened, giving an immediate outlet to the valuable district of Altar and north-eastern Sonora. A considerable amount of east ern capital has been invested in Guaymas and landed prop erty adjacent. The foundries of San Francisco are turning out engines, mills, and costly machinery for the several mines owned in part here. The steamship Hues established between San Francisco and Guaymas and Mazatlan are carrying this machinery to those ports, and from there trans ported to the interior. A new steamer has lately been built for the gulf trade above Guaymas. Alamos. The city of Alamos is situated some 240 miles south-east from the port of Guaymas, on the direct road by way of Buena Vista, on the Yaqui River. The town is situated in a rolling or hilly country, at the base of the Sierra Madre mountains, and is devoted principally to the mines in the vicinity, furnishing supplies to all the surrounding region. The population is about 5,000. We will give a more par ticular description of the mines in this district hereafter. There is much business done here with Chihuahua, and the northern part of Sinaloa, The principal business houses are Thomas Robinson Bours, Vincente Ortiz & Hijos, and A. Goycoolea & Co. 31 Altar. Altar is a small mining town of about 2,500 inhabitants, and was formerly called Santa Gertrudis del Altar, and it is sometimes now called Guadalupe. It is watered by a small stream called Rio de la Assumpeion, branching 4rom the Altar or Magdalena river. The stream is insufficient for irrigation in the dry season. The town is situated near the banks of the stream upon a plain about 80 miles northeast from the gulf coast, and about 100 miles from La Libertad, which is located southeast on the coast. The plains on the west are dry and sandy, and are a part of the great Colorado desert, which extends down the coast near Lobos, about 50' miles distant in a south-west direction. The discovery of mines of gold and silver in the vicinity of Altar gave it a great impetus at one period in its history. It is mostly built of adobe houses, and contains several retail shops,. one church, two justices of the peace, a prefect, andjudge of the first instance. The town is garrisoned by a few soldiers, and the streets are irregular. East of the tpwn are situated ranchos exceedingly fertile and abundantly watered. The place is distant from Santa Cruz about 120 miles, which lies in a north-east direction by way of Magdalena and Arispe. Santa Magdalena is about 70 miles distant. The latter town is also called San ¦ Ignacio, and is located due east of Altar, in a beautiful valley. The number of inhabitants is about 3,000. The stage connects at Magdalena with Hermosillo on the south-east and thence to Guaymas, and on the. north with Tucson by way of Tombstone and Benson, Arizona. Hermosillo. Hermosillo is the largest town in the State and numbers about 12,000 inhabitants. It is situated in a valley about three and a h'alf leagues, or about ten miles in length and five in breadth, sheltered on the north by valleys, hills, and on the west by the range of hills called "Chanate," and on the east by the "Cerro- de la Campana" — hill of the bell — so-called because its rocks, when struck together, produce a sound similar to that of a bell. The base of this hill is bathed by a small stream or river called the Sonora, run ning from east to west, which is sufficient to irrigate the lands between San Juanica and Chanate, cultivated by the inhabitants of the city, and of the pueblo of Ceris, which is 32 in sight to the south; the said lands being in length, from east to west, 12 to 15 miles. A large aqueduct passes through the middle of the settle ment, which serves for irrigating the neighboring lands. Another passes near the river and ihe Cerro de la Campana, and a third divides the city north and south, furnishing water to the houses and orchards of orange, citron, lime, and fig trees, pomegranates and peach trees in the neigh borhood, as well as immense fields of wheat, corn, and other cereals. The average annual quantity of its agricult ural products reaches to about 70,000 bushels of wheat and about 300,000 bushels of Indian corn, and an immense quan tity of other cereals. Large vineyards of grapes, from which brandy and wine are produced, and plantain trees of enormous growth, mingle with the rich landscape. The wine produced is hard to keep, owing to its tendency to sour, and it is mostly manufactured into brandy or aguadi- ente. The Tennage and Palomos cotton plantations are located from twelve to twenty miles west of the city, and at the Chino Gordo, about twelve miles east. Sugar-cane has not been very successfully grown in this vicinity ; but at San Juanica and Ceris it is raised in small quantities. The capital of the State is located here, and the Legislature meets biennially, the same as under the Constitution of California. The Constitution of the State of Sonora is mostly copied from the old Constitution of California. The streets of the city are kept clean and are well paved. The principal street is called the " Calle Principal," the same as in Guaymas. The public buildings are, the capitol, the mint, the assayer's office, and municipal buildings, includ ing the prison and public school, and one or two churches. The school is held in a building purchased by the city, and consists of two departments, male and female. The number of pupils is about 600. Public examinations are held every six months. There are several hotels. The principal ones are, the "Iturbide," "Nacional," " Cinco de Mayo," and "Cosmo politan." All are one-story adobes, with a court in the center, where the guests are obliged to sleep in the summer season. The houses are nearly all one-story adobe build ings, with occasional brick residences and buildings. A new Catholic church is in course of construction. The principal plaza, in front of the church, is the most attract ive feature of the city, and is set with orange trees and evergreens and covered with lawn grass, with enticing paths, 33 meandering through flower beds, and bordered with orange trees, which afford an excellent shade. It is kept open all the time, and is provided with convenient seats for the leisure-taking Sonorians. An eye-witness \ renounces it, in " size, beauty, and arrangement, as excelling any in San Fran cisco." The whole is surrounded with a very pretty iron fence. In the center is a grand stand, from which music is wafted upon the evening breeze Thursday and Saturday nights, on which occasions it is the favorite resort of the people of the city. The ladies of Sonora are very beautiful, and, indeed, the town is known as the place of beautiful women. The ladies of Hermosillo of the higher class never go on the street with their faces uncovered. The "mantilla" of rich and gorgeous material is very gracefully thrown over the head, and one portion, with that indescribable drapery for which the Spanish ladies are noted, is carelessly thrown across the lower part of the face, concealing the features, and over the shoulder, while the beautiful eyes, some lus trous black and others of blue, only are revealed to the gaze of the spectator, as they float along with that grace of car riage and modest demeanor for which the Spanish ladies are so celebrated. The latest styles from Paris are ordered, and Worth has many customers throughout the republic. The descendants of the ancient Castilians are to be seen in blondes as well as brunettes ; and although the taste of the people is generally in favor of bright colors, still fashion has been wielding her scepter in Mexico as well as in the United States. Hermosillo is celebrated, as well as the rest of the state, for the fecundity of its women. It is not uuusual to see a family with from 15 to 25 children. As an instance in point, there is a lady residing in Hermosillo weighing 260 pounds, tall and handsome withal, in spite of her corpulence, who is the last of a family of 28 children. This fact is vouched for by a well-known citizen of this city. Another gentleman, an American by birth, and at one time a prominent citizen of Guaymas, but now residing in this city, married a Span ish or Mexican lady, and is the fortunate father of no less than 17 children. The children of Sonora go almost naked, and thrive remarkably well, since the statement of Velasco that there is a great mortality among children, to which we have already referred. The prominent citizens even dress their children only with a shirt, hat, and boots. The business of the place is confined to the port of Guay- o 34 mas and the interior of the state. There are about 30 shops and mercantile establishments in the city. The town is the favorite resort for travelers through the state. The princi pal business men of the place are the Ortizes, Camous, Pes- quiera, Uuix & Mascarerias, Carlos Maneti, Alvistiqui & Alatorre, and Antonio Calderon. Most 'if these business houses import direct from Europe and the United States. The houses of Ortiz and the Camou Bros, are probably as strong financially as any in the republic. The Ortizes, besides. owning a large number of hacien las, comprising several hundre > thousand acres, stocked with immense herds of cattle and horses and flocks of sheep, and several of the best mining properties of the state, own the large cotton-mill, called "Industria Sonorense," which employs about 300 men and women; also a sugar-mill and tannery. All these mills are located at Los Angeles, on the San Miguel River. Th6 Camou Bros, own several large haciendas, also, with their thousands of cattle and horses, mules, sheep, and large mines. They also own the steam flour-mill, located at the city of Hermosillo, and another at El Molino Rancho. The town of Hermosillo is orderly, aud the police regulations good. There is a very good market-place for the sale of meat and vegetables, but no bakeries, such as are seen in the United States, in the city. Water is found in abundance in wells, at the depth of 20 or 30 feet. Wood is plentiful, and brought from the timber, about two or three miles distant. A natu ral cement stone is within the town limits, that is easil.' quarried, being soft, until it hardeus on exposure. It may be quarried aud used for buildiug purposes. There is also a fine clay, used in the manufacture of brick, in the vicinity. There is also a shoe factory and wagon factory, and plenty of carpenter and blacksmith shops, etc.,worked by foreigners. Wardrobes and other pieces of furniture a:e manufactured in the town. The railroad now being built from Guaymas will add to the business energy of the city, and its future is assured as the most important inland city in the State. There is a club in the city called the " Casion," of about one hundred mem bers, of the principal citizens of the place, located in the former magnificent residence of Gov. Pesquiera ; also a theater ; and society is of the gayest during the sessions of the Legislature, when balls and receptions are quite frequent. Thk re is no gas in the city ;* but an attempt is being made to organize a company for that purpose. The streets and houses are lighted by lamps. Seiior Falizardo Torres is the 35 superintendent, and Mr. Edward Norman, is the cashier. We are informed that the mint here, the two mints of Sina loa and the mints of Chihuahua and Durango are leased to Messrs. Simon & Co., of England, making five in all, or the mints of the four northern States We also understand that they hold Mexican bonds tt> a heavy amount. Robt. Simon, of this firm, residing in New York, is said to be very influ ential with the Mexican government. There are two stage lines running from Tucson to Hermo sillo; one by Sasabe and /iltar, which is the longer route, and the stages are slower aud are not in so good condition as the stages on the other route, though the fare is cheaper. The fare over this route, by buying the ticket at Tucson for Guaymas, that is, by way of Altar, is $24. The other route is by way of Calabasas and Magdalena. The difference in price is not much ; but the stages' are better, and horses faster, insuring a quicker trip. The distance from Tucson to Hermosillo is about one hundred leagues, through Magda lena, and the ride is through a beautiful country ; conse quently this is the most popular route. A sixteen hours' ride from Hermosillo, reaches Guaymas, over about one hundred miles. Immense herds of cattle are passed on the way, of from 5,000 to 10,000 head in each, handled by gaily-decked caballeros, who are fine riders, and very gracefully bestride very beautiful horses. They are very fine looking in appear ance ; and with their gaudy serapes and sombreros, are withal very prepossessing. A writer to the Farmer and Dealer, San Francisco, says : "The Sonora Railway, Limited, has already nearly 100 miles graded from Hermosillo, on their route to or near El Paso, where they connect with the Atchesou, Topeka and Santa F6 road, which gives direct railroad communication with Chicago and the East ; 30 miles of steel rails on hand; track-laying has begun, aud the locomotive whistle has already sounded the death-knell of the old ox-train trans portation to aud from Hermosillo, and I have no doubt the poor oxen will rejoice. The first of March next is the time set for the opening of the 100 miles of road. Another road, called the Mexican Central, from the capital to El Paso, has about 1,000 men employed at the southern end. These two roads will drain the whole country, and open to American enterprise a rich field for operation. "Already, in anticipation of the future, American capital is flowing into Sonora ; no less than six mines, ranging in 36 price from $200,000 upwards, having been sold to New York and Chicago parties in the last six months, and more are coming every day. "For the gold mine of Los Mulatos, $1,000,000 has been refused." The distance from Hermosillo to Ures is about fifty miles, situated north-east, and to Arispe, 150 miles north-east of Ures, and Santa Cruz, about 250 miles ; thence 170 miles to Tucson by way of Magdalena, distant 300 miles, and is about 100 miles by stage from Guaymas. Ures. This town was formerly the capital of the State, and is situated in a most beautiful valley, stretching from east to west, the soil of which is exceedingly fertile and suitable for the production of all kinds of fruits, excellent wheat, sugar cane and cotton of superior quality. The environs are picturesque and pleasing to the eye of the visitor. It is located on the Sonora River, and on the road from Hermo sillo and Alameda, a road lined with trees on each side similar to the Alameda between San Jose and Santa Clara in this State : the road in this instance being bordered with trees on either side for four miles, and presents an elegant drive for the residents of Ures. The town originally was environed, with numerous creeks that threatened it with inundations, when it was re moved upon a neighboring* plateau. The town is not so large as Hermosillo, yet its neat and elegant gardens of rare and beautiful flowers, lime, orange, and citron groves, make it a gem of a little city. There are some very sub stantial residences of brick scattered here and there among the adobe houses, and even elegant residences, among which may be mentioned Gov. Pesqueira's residence, hand somely fu rnished. A large orchard is attached to his resi dence and grounds, with orange, lime, lemon, peach, and olive trees bearing finely, besides an extensive vineyard. Since the capital of the State was removed to Hermosillo the population has shrunk from 10,000 to 5,000. There is quite a rivalry between the two cities, and the dispute over the capital is not yet ended. If the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe~ Railroad passes up the Sonora river to El Paso, it will pass through this place. There is a vast agricultural and mining country arouud and adjacent to the city, and business is quite extensive. There are some heavy corn- 37 mercial firms in the city, among which may be mentioned Lauro Morales, Joaquin Villaes, Cusa & Co., Francisco Her nandez, Manuel Morales & Co. and Francisco C. Aguilar. The climate is much cooler at Ures than at Hermosillo, and one is able to sleep within doors. Among the important haciendas of arable land may be mentioned, Santa Rita, Molino, Guadalupe, Tcpahui and others. There are no im portant public buildings except certain small houses pur chased during the administration of General Urea to form a palace, a penitentiary or House of Correction. Excellent stone for building is in the neighborhood of the city. The principal hotel is the Gubion, kept by a Frenchman. The Rancho of Gov. Pesquiera, called Las Deli cias, is lo cated about 60 miles distant by way of Canada Andia, El Puertecito, El Molinate, Soqui, San Jose-, La Estancia, La •Concha aud Baviacora. The last named town was once an important place, with a population of 3,000, and is situated in a pretty little valley one mile from the Sonora River, in one of the most fertile and beautiful districts of the State. The grounds of the Hacie«da of Las Delicias is fenced in and laid out with orange and lime groves and flower gar dens, containing rare flowers. The hacienda consists of a little over 30,000 acres of arable land, and about one-fifth is first-class agricultural land, devoted to the raising of wheat, Indian corn, potatoes, etc.; the balance is very good grazing land, covered with alfalfa and gramma grass. It is situated in a valley of considerable extent. Gov. Pes quiera has made this hacienda his residence, owing to the existence of rich mines in the vicinity, which are owned by him, and demand his attention in working them. Among the reptiles that are found in the State may be mentioned the scorpion, whose sting is deadly. Rumor says that they are more deadly in the interior than on the coast. One citizen near Guaymas was recently bitten by one of these reptiles on the hand. He simply twisted a strong India-rubber band around his wrist to keep the poison from communicating to the rest of the system, and took some ammonia, and the wouud soon healed, without any serious result following. Strong spirits are generally used to work off the virus from the system. Santa Cruz is the most northern town of Sonora, distant aoout 120 miles from the boundary line of Chihuahua and ten to. fifteen from the boundary line of Arizona, and situ- 38 ated on a road direct to Guadalupe or Altar, which passes through Occua, Saita Ana, Santa Marta, San Lorenzo, Santa Magdalena, or San Ignacio, Teneuate, Imuris, and San Lazaro. The population is about 800. The town is located in a beautiful valley, clothed in verdure the entire year, in latitude 32 degrees 15 minutes north, and in a region that is pronounced to be the best agricultural region of the State, outside of the bottom lands of the rivers Yaqui and Mayo. It is also the best timbered of any portion of the northern part of the state, and in other respects presents advantages to the settler. Indeed, the valley of Santa Cruz, with its adjacent districts, where there are several rich and highly- cultivated haciendas and missions, must become the future granary of Arizona. The Santa Cruz River rises in a broad vaUey, or rather plain, north of the town, and passes the base of a mountain range through an open country, studded with oaks, into ap open plain covered with luxuriant grass, without tree or shrub. It then passes between a low range of hills into the valley where the town is located. The river then flows Couth nine miles to San Lorenzo — a consid erable ranch o — and then takea a northerly course, winding its way through a beautiful vallej7, until it is lost across the line into Arizona, in the desert plain or sands some ten or fifteen miles north of Tucson. It is about 150 miles in length. Its width varies from 20 to 100 feet, and during dry seasons portions of it disappear. This valley was traversed by the earliest Spanish explorers in 1535, seduced by the flattering accounts of Cabela de Vaca. Marco de Niza and Coronado led their deluded adventur ers through it in search of the famed cities of Cibola, north of the Gila River; and before 1000, its richness having been made known, it was soon after occupied as missionary ground. Remains of several of these missions still exist. The Mission Church of Sau Xavier del Bac, erected during the last century, was the finest edifice of the kind in Sonora. Tumacacori, a few miles south of Tubac, was the most exten sive. The towns and settlements of the Santa Cruz valley, across the line, in Sonora, arc, Santa Cruz and Sau Lorenzo. The lauds of this valley arc suitable for stock-raising and all kinds of grain, especially wheat, which is produced of ex cellent quality. Bacuachi. The town or Presidio of Eacuachi is located about 50 miles south-east from Santa Cruz, on the road to Arispe, 39 which is located on the Souora River. It was at one time rich in cattle, sheep, and horses; but the Apaches swept them away, and the town became almost a heap of ruins. It is located in a very fertile valley, near the base of a range of mountains on the west, on-the Sonora River, that rises in a valley north of the town and across the boundary line, in New Mexico. It also lies in a straight lino drawn from the boundary line between Arizona and New Mexico, and is distant from the boundary line of the United States about 40 miles within or near the lower part of the prohibited belt. There are gold mines in the neighborhood of marvel ous richness. The rich placers on the Sonora not being very distant, great quantities of this precious metal was extracted from the mines in the vicinity, of twenty-two carats fine. The miners were driven off by the Apaches, and the mines were, consequently, abandoned. The gold is coarse, and pieces have been found weighing twenty-five marcs. These mines might be made to yield a magnificent return if they were opened. The future of this mining district is just to spen, since the suppression of the Apaches. A colony of miners will here find a rich field; for the whole region is rich in miuerals, and but awaits the hands of man to develop their vast resources. This locality has been peculiarly ex posed to the incursions of the Apaches, and for that reason, its mineral wealth has been withheld from the prospector. Wc predict a tremendous immigration to this point and all along the headwaters of the Yaqui River. The climate is cool and healthful, and epidemics or fevers are entirely un known, while the soil is of the most fertile character, producing wheat, corn, etc., and presents a grazing region unexcelled anywhere; and there is an entire absence of swamps that are found in the Santa Cruz valley, which sometimes induce fevers. There are here two justices of the peace, subject to the sub-prefect of Arispe. The town of Fronteras is situated in latitude 31 deg. N., north-east of Bacuachi, distant about 35 miles, and 20 miles from the boundary line of New Mexico. The t :wn contains but one street, at the foot of a creek whose waters irrigate the neighboring lands, which produce excellent wheat, maize, etc; also, the delicious peaches for which Sonora is •celebrated, apples, and bergamot pears. The town is sit uated 35 miles north-cast of Bacuachi, and the greater part of the road is between dense thickets. This point was the riiost exposed to the Apaches of any in the State, but is now comparatively safe. The climate is cool and healthy, 40 timber is abundant, and game plentiful. The plains are fer tile and well watered. Two justices of the peace are located here. Bapispe is situated about 18 miles west of the boundary line of Chihuahua, on the banks of a small creek which empties into the river Bapepito. It is isolated from all other towns, and is situated about 40 miles south of the boundary line of the United States at New Mexico, and east of Bacuachi about 90 miles. The creek passing the town rises in a valley south-east of the town and flows north-west into a plain about 20 miles; then south-west into the Bapepito, near Oputo. A road con nects this town with Janos in Chihuahua, about 40 miles dis tant. This territory of the Bapispe district contains the towns of Guachinera aud Baserac, and haciendas Santa Ana and Loreto ; it formerly comprised a number of wealthy ranchos, but all have been despoiled by the Apaches. Bapis pe possesses excellent grazing lands and abundance of water. The population is about 800. They are engaged principally in the manufacture of soap and leather. About six miles east is located a rich silver mine, that has not been worked much on account of the Apaches. Arispe is situated south-west of Bacuachi, on the river So nora, in a valley skirting an immense table-land or plain, and a range of mountains extending north-east and south-west. Extensive silver mines are located south-east in this range of mountains, called the Babiconicora and Bauamiche ; also, south-west, the San Rosalio mine is located, also of silver, The hacienda of Las Delicias, owned by Genera] Pesquiera, is also situated south west of Arispe. A road runs from Bacu achi along the river Sonora, in a south-westerly direction, through Bacadobabi, Chiuapa, Guipaberachi, Ciniriasanta, Arispe, Bamori, Sinoquipe, Monteport, Bamanitchi, Hue- paca, Mochobavi, Aconche Babiacora, Concepcion, Purete- cito, San Francisco, and Ures, distant about 100 miles. The same river passes Ures and Hermosillo in the same direction,. until it is lost in the sandy plains on the coast, south-west of Hermosillo, and is about 200 miles long. I.loutezuma, or Oposura, is situated on the Soyopa River, in a large plain, that extends from the heal-waters of the river Soyopa, which runs almost due south for about 100 miles, and then taking a south-easterly course, empties into the river Yaqui, about 20 miles further. A road runs from Moctezuma, down the Soyopa River to the Yaqui, and thence along the Yaqui to Comoripa and Buenavista. This plain 41 is one of the largest in the state, and over 100 miles in length, and about 40 miles wide at its widest point. In the mountain ranges west of the head-waters of the Bapepito are situated the silver mines of El Pintos, Sesentero, San Pedro, El Rosario, Cinco Senora, El Humacal, and Plomosa. South-west of Soyopa, on this river, is located the Mina Prieta copper mine, and the silver mines of El Paste, and Los Bronces. East of the latter, the La Barranca, and the great gold mine called the San Antonio de la Huerta; the latter two of which are located near the mouth of the Soyopa River. Sahuaripa is a small town located on a branch of the Bapepito, east of the river of that name, and distant from Bacuachi about one hundred and fifty miles south-east by way of the road through Bapepito and Oputo, crossing the branch of the river ; thence south, along the Bapepito, to Cienega, Guainipa, Iascotol, and crossing the Bapepito to Huasavas; thence to Baca de Huachi, crossing again the same river ; thence south-east to Nocori, on the river Viejo, which empties into the Bapepito south-west about fifteen miles ; thence to Palmar, Casa, San Gabrielle, through the silver mine of San Felipe to Sahuaripa. This region is well watered, and abundance of timber is found in the mountains. Several large haciendas are also in the neighborhood, along the stream and between the two streams ; the stream on the north being the Rio Viejo, which takes its rise in the same neighboring mountains on the east. North-east of Sahuaripa, distant about fifty miles, is located the great gold mines of Cieueguita and the silver mine called the Minas Prietas Viejas, both of which are lo cated at the base of the mountains ; the Cieneguita being north of the latter about fifteen miles. A road runs direct from the town through a rancho to the Minas Prietas Viejas mine. This is a rich mineral region, and will ere long be completely settled. The region north of these mines has never been completely explored, and has not yet known the tread of the American miner. The second main branch of the river Yaqui, called the Papigochi or Mulatos, runs south of this region, taking a north-easterly course and emptying into the Bapepito about fifty miles t^outh-west of Sahuaripa. Gold placers are located east of Santa Cruz, about forty miles; and the mine of. La Cananea south-east of Sa-uta Cruz thirty miles ; and the Santa Teresa silver mines and San Rafael Valle silver mines, forty miles south-west. The 42 Planchas de Plata silver mines are located west of Santa Cruz about fifty miles. The Altar mine, or mines surround ing Altar, are located in . many districts. West of that place the gold mines of La Basura are located about seventy miles, and silver mines north-east of the same mine about ten miles. The Cajitos gold mines are located south west of Altar about seventy miles ; and south-west of La Basura, the placers of gold Micaray, and Alamo de San Feliz, silver, are also located about seventy miles ; also, the silver mines of Los Palomos are located on the river Assump tion, south-west of Altar about ninety miles, and about seventy miles north of La Libertad, on the coast. South of Altar about thirty miles, are located the Alamitos, sil ver, and La Tollena, gold mines, near. The Miua Grande silver mine is located about eighty miles south of Altar, and Latesote near Cienega, east about ten miles. Ca- borca gold mines are located near the same river. Rich gold placers are also found west of Altar on the elevated plains abou: one hundred miles distant ; and the Quitovac gold mines, which were once rich, about one hundred and fifty miles north-west of Altar. So that the town may be said to be completely surrounded by mines. Rivers Yaqui and Mayo. The river Yaqui, or Buena Vista, rises in the Sierra Madre Maicova, aud takes a south-westerly course through Bapispe, Todos Santos, the pueblo of Soyopa, Houavas, Tenichi, San Antonio and Comuripa, to the city of Buena Vista, where it enters the Yaqui settlement. aud finally empties into the Gulf of California, in front of the pueblo of Ralium. It has many branches, and may be said to drain all the region east of Arispe, Ures and Hermosillo, to the summit of the Sierra Madre range, which divides the states of Sonora and Chi huahua, and north of the river Mayo. One of its branches called the Bapepito rises in the south eastern portion of Arizona; and another called the Papi gochi, or Mulatos, at the base of the Sierra Madre, across the boundary line in south-western Chihuahua. It is the largest river of the state, and is estimated to be four hundred miles in length, from its source to its mouth. Its waters pass through the richest agricultural portion of the state, and through immense placers of gold, aud along the base of ledges of silver, copper, galena, and tin ores. Its rich bottom lauds are the most fertile of any in the state, 43 and raise in spots now under cultivation, wheat, sugar-cane, corn, cotton, the indigo plant, tobacco, and the various cer eals. At and near its mouth, where the soil is not under culti vation, immense cane-brakes of a kind of bamboo extend along its banks for about sixty miles. If brought under con trol by proper agriculture, its valuable lauds could produce immense quantities of all the products that an alluvial soil, well irrigated, will produce. The best portion of the lands are in possession of the Yaqui Indians, with some exceptions, but its lands are so extensive that after reserving sufficient for the Indians, millions of acres of arable lands would remain to be brought under cultivation. Here is an opportunity for colonization that is unrivaled in the United States or the Republic of Mexico. The land is easily irrigated from the river, and would provide homes for colonization of a large population. In time of high water the river is navigable for small vessels for from fifty to sev enty-five miles. Flour-mills are located on its banks, owned by foreigners — the result of foreign capital and energy. At its mouth are located the best oyster-beds on the coast of the gulf. We are assured by parties who have tested the quali ties of these oysters, that they are equal to our best Eastern bivalves. San Francisco will soon have the pleasure of test ing them on the completion of the Sonora Railway con necting Guaymas with San Francisco. Packed in ice man ufactured at Guaymas, they can successfully be exported direct by rail to San Francisco, on the completion of the railroad, thus opening up a new avenue for some enterpris ing gentleman who will take the initiative. San Francis cans would like 10 try some of the Yaqui 03'sters if they are as represented. We understand that Dr. Charles McQues- ten of this city, and Rafael Escobosa of Guaymas, are now the bona fide owners of these oyster beds, and the extent of their possession comprises one league square in the delta of the Yaqui at the old mouth. The oy3tei'3 are found in the sloughs which extend from one to two miles inland. The basin of this river at its widest point is about ninety miles wide. After the rains have ceased, the river is fordable, though still deep until the droughts in April, May and June. Near Soyopa, Buena Vista, and Honavas, are located a greater proportion of the best bottom lands. The salt-pits of the river, located near the coast, supply the interior towns, and are considered the property of the Yaquis. The annual overflow of the river supplies sufficient irrigation for one crop of wheat, maize, beans, len- 44 tils, and various kinds of fruit, at the points thus irrigated. Cotton, flax, and coffee, are also successfully raised. We are told by Velasco, the sheep raised upon its nutritious grasses attain the size of a yearling calf, and make excellent mutton. Beef cattle of the best quality are raised. At one time the Mission of Huirivis alone owned 40,000 head. The tobacco raised by the Iudians upon the banks of this river is of very good quality ; and the plant might, with proper cultivation, be equal to that of Havana. Immigration to this region must be of incalculable value to the state in the increase of its productions. The river Mayo rises also in the Sierra Madre, and though it is smaller, and its bottom lands more narrow than those of the Yaqui, yet its fertility is the same, and may produce like results proportionate to the extent of its lands that are sus ceptible of cultivation. The Mayo Indians are located on its banks. The two rivers are separated by a low range of hills or mountains, and the intervening hills are good graz- iug lauds. The pueblos of the Mayos, from the sierra on the east to Conicari on the west, are Macollagui in the sierra, Conicari, Camoa, Tecia,'Nabajoa, Cuirimpo, Guitajoa, Echo- joa, Santa Cruz, and Masiaca. The Yaqui settlements extend from Buena Vista to Belen, over a territory of 84 miles in length. A brig might enter the mouth of the river Mayo, and a harbor is located at the port of Loreto, at this point. It was the first settlement of the gulf, and renowned for its pearl fishery, which has pro duced splendid fortunes. In the gulf, many large whales are sometimes caught, of various kinds; also, sharks of enormous size haunt its coasts, to the great danger of the pearl fish ermen, who are Yaqui Indians. They always carry a long, keen knife with them while diving after pearls, to defend themselves. rihe " manta," or blanket fish, also, is auother great enemy of theirs, and very formidable. It has fins like the arms of a man, says a writer, by which it seizes its prey. The Presidio of Buenavista is located ou the Yaqui River, on the main road to Alamos, about 300 miles from Arispe, by way of Hermosillo, aud about 260 miles by way of the road of Matape, which runs along the banks of a stream by thai name, south of Hermosillo. It is situated upon a small rocky promontory or hill, and is, consequently, very hot. It claims some importance as a military position, and is sup posed to present a barrier against the revolt, of the Yaquis and Mayo Indians. Its soldiers are poorly supplied and sel- lom paid. 45 The recent attempts to survey the lands of the Yaqui and Mayo rivers have been suspended, awaiting a petition from the Legislature of Sonora to the geueral government to supply a force of 1,000 soldiers to keep the Yaquis in sub jection during the survey and location of certain govern ment grants upon those rivers. For this purpose, a return grant by the owners to the general government of a portion of the lands is to be made to cover the expense of maintain ing the military in this district. The lands adjacent to the town are of the fertile character that belongs to the bottom lands of the Yaqui and Mayo rivers. From this point, the Yaqui River is navigable during the greater part of the year, and timber, grain, and other productions can easily be transported to Guaymas. Mines of gold and silver are located at Cumuripa, Cendra- ditas and San Frincisco de Borja, which, when worked, yield abundantly. The current of the river is rapid at Buenavista and many other points. Ore might be transported from this place and shipped from Guaymas. Along the river, above Buenavista, there are huudreds of veins of gold and silver that could be worked profitably. The placers are located near this place, and are said to be very rich. The town of San Pedro de la Conquista is situated south of Hermosillo, on the river Sonora, a short distance. Cattle and horses are here raised, and different kinds of grain grown. There have been no mines of any consequence discovered here. The land is well timbered with iron-wood, the mesquite, the huayacan, (a very solid and compact wood) and the huevito. An herb is here found, called the "con- fituria," which is much esteemed, as possessing medicinal qualities, and is said to be used as a specific for hydro phobia. The land is fertile, producing wheat and Indian corn or maize, beans, pulse, lentils, Chili peppers, sweet potatoes, etc. Figs are raised in profusion, grapes, peaches,, apri cots, pomegranates, quinces, sweet and sour oranges, limes, citrons, and the guava. Wheat is sown from October to December, and sometimes as late as January, and is harvested from May to July. Two crops of beans are raised annually. The first is planted in February or March, and the second in July and August. Two crops of corn are also sometimes raised, the most abundant being gathered in November and December. That gathered in July or August is generally of inferior 46 quality. Grain, flour, and other products are transported to Guaymas and other places, in wagons drawn by mules and oxen. There are several grist-mills turned by water-power at this place, the best grinding from 25 to 30 cargas (of 300 lbs. each), in 24 hours. Sugar-cane is also raised. The climate is healthy, and the population about 1,200. The town has two justices of the peace, subject to the tribunal of first instance at Hermosillo. The Indians and Presidios. The Yaqui and Mayo Indians inhabit the cane-brakes on those rivers, and are depended upon mostly for laborers all through the state. They are not averse to labor, and are employed in every capacity. They possess remarkable natural abilities, and soon learn the trades of blacksmithing, carpentering, etc. They have been known to manufacture fireworks, and are skillful players on the harp and violin. Their character is resolute, and they are very jealous of their lands. They are generally copper-colored and well formed. The women are of medium height and corpulent. In some of the settlements, the women are exceedingly fair and handsome; but these latter are mostly half-breeds. The Yaqui, with few exceptions, has but few wants. A cotton shirt and drawers for the men, and shawl and petticoat for the women, suffices; while the children run naked, with the exception of a cloth around the loins. Their nature is joy ous, and they are very fond of music and dancing. They are suspicious, and a supposition of deception serves as well as the reality. They have been known t ) revolt against the government and commit great atrocities. They are brave, and have been known to fight steadily for hours against the government troops. They shun the society of the whites, and only live near them for the sake of employment. Ve lasco says, " They will steal, gamble, and drink, and have no generosity or gratitude " — a rather peculiar trait for the Indian— yet they work in the mines, till the soil, build houses, and perform nearly all the labor of Sonora. They alone of all the Indians are skillful pearl-divers ; but so "great is their love of robbery," says Francisco Velasco, an impartial Spauish writer, " that they abandon any occu pation, however profitable, for the purpose of stealing cattle and horses from the ranchos in the neighborhood of the river. This they practice even in times of peace." 47 But Mr. Andrade tells us that this is not so at present. They have greatly improved since the writing of Velasco's book. Their population amounts to 13,500 in the state, ac cording to Cubas. The May os possess the same characteristics as the Yaquis. Being located on the Mayo, they are called Mayos. The Ceris are more allied to savages, are filthy, drunken, and bitterly hostile to the whites. They are located by the gov ernment upon the pueblo of San Pedro de Ja Conquista, where they have lands assigned to them for their support. They are lazy, and dress themselves in either the skins of the pelican or a coarse blanket wrapped around the waist. Some wear nothing but a strip of cloth about the loins, and none wear shoes. They paint their faces in black stripes, and many pierce the cartilages of the nose, and append to it pieces of a green stone resembling glass. The women per form the greater part of the labor, gathering the crops, etc. The men are tall, erect, and generally stout. The women are copper-colored, and wear a petticoat made of the pelican skin, with the feathers, which covers the form from the waist down. They worship the moon, and prostrate them selves, beating their breasts, and kiss the ground on the appearance of the new moon. The Opatas are more frank and docile, and are friendly towards the whites, many of them serving as soldiers. They are brave to the last extremity, and have been known to withstand an' onset of the Apaches outnumbered eight to one. They are just and humane in their dealings, and ca pable of a high degree of education. They are the bitter foes of the Apaches, showing them no mercy in an en counter. The Opatas live in several of the towns, where the mixed . race predominates, called Opodepe, Cucurpe, Suaque, Acon- chi, Babiacora, Arivechi* Santo Tomas, Baeauora, and Nuri in the center ; Oposura, Guayavas, Baca de Huachi, Nacori, Mochop, and Oputo in the sierra ; Chinapa, Bacuachi, Cuquiurachi, and Cum pas, to the north. The Opatas are able-bodied, and as fleet as the game they pursue. Their haughty character is illustrated by the following, related by Cubas, of a band of them in rebellion: "Persecuted by General Gandara with very superior forces, in consequence of an insurrection, they refused to surrender themselves, even after each one at his post had shot his last arrow, Their captain, with some few who had survived the contest, took refuge on the summit^of an almost inaccessible mount- 48 aiu, and there awaited the approach of General Gandara's emissaries, who had intimated their submission. Believing themselves humiliated at the demand for the delivery of their arms, they declared to the envoys of the general their resolution to deliver themselves up to their conquerors, with out abandoning their arms. Upon General Gandara's insist ing in his demands, and they in their resolution, their conduct decided him to take them prisouers by force, which they avoided. by an act worthy of the ancient Spartans, in throw ing themselves over the precipice at the moment the- gen eral's troops were ascending the heights." The Opatas are most useful citizens, and have on many occasions proved their loyalty to the Mexican Government by resisting the attacks of the Apaches. They seldom go barefooted, every man has a blanket, and every woman a long scarf. They are good carpenters, masons, shoemakers, and house-paint ers, and manufacture blankets, shawls, coarse cottons,- sad dles, pack-saddles, bridles, etc., and considerable quantities of soap. The Papajos are numerous, and located in the western part of the state, subsisting principally on wild fruits, espe cially the " pitaya, " from which they manufacture a deli cious syrup, and carry it to the settlements for sale in earthen jars. In the winter they resort to the settlements of La Pimeria to trade, exchanging skins and baskets. This tribe is also the sworn enemy of the Apaches. The Apaches are divided into the Coyote's or Pinelores, the Tontos, Chiricahuis, Mimbrenos, Gilenos, Mescaleros, Sacramautenos, Mogollones, Carrizallenos, Gipaues* Fara- ones, and Navajoes. They have had no fixed, habitation, and reside in the mountains and on the plains, and often make incursions into Sonora, near Altar and Magdalena, and 'also in the north-east, in the mountains of Chihuahua, near Janos, and in Coahuilla. They ar^ the most savage of all the Indians of Mexico, and are exceedingly fleet, both in trav ersing the vast plains and in climbing the rugged eminences of the mountains ; and, besides, are excellent horsemen. Their arms are mostly the bow and arrow ; but some few have fire-arms, and a lance with a flint point. They use a leather quiver, and a shield of leopard's skin, ornamented with feathers and with small mirrors in the center. They are cowardly, and only attack unawares ; crafty and treach erous, and scalp their victims. They make use of smoke for telegraphic signals. They are fond of hunting deer and wild boars, "ciballos," or Mexican bulls, black bears, wild 49 goats, and Rocky Mountain sheep. Their dress consists of a strip of linen passing between their thighs, and fastened at the waist, and leggi ngs of deerskin with fringes, ornamented with beads, and garnished with leather strings, and wear pendants aud ear-rings, and in their hair they fasten a long false braid, adorned with trinkets, shells, or silver buckles. The women, who are as active as the men in their habits, use very short garments of deer-skin or kid, which they call "tlacalee," with friuges of leather strings, on the edges of which are hung casebels, tassels, and red beads. They wear, also, a kind of jacket called "bietle," made of the entire deer-skin, open in front, ornamented in the same manner. They wear moccasins of deer-skin, the same as the men, which are called "teguas," and are fastened to the leggings. They are all of swarthy complexion, well proportioned, wear long hair, and no beard. Both the men and women have very small feet. The women decorate themselves with ear rings of shells, or small green and white stones, resembling crystal ; and in some instances the men are decorated in like manner. Their huts are simply poles covered with grass or skins, and a small door, admitting a grown person. If the place is wooded, they encamp at the foot of a tree, and cover the branches with grass to protect them from the rain ; but generally they live without any protection what ever. Their atrocities are well known, and* they have long been a terror to the Sonorians ; but the dispersion of Vic- torio's band subdued them, with the exception of small rov ing bands, that do not hesitate to attack even the stages, as they did but a short time since, near Mesilla, in New Mexico. Comparative peace may be said to exist, though settlers may do well to keep on the lookout, and travel well armed. DISCOVERY OF GOLD. In 1799, the first discovery of gold in the western part of the state was made at San Ildefonso de la Cieneguilla, about forty miles south or south-east of Altar, of which many incorrect accounts have been published. This discovery was accidental, and occurred as follows : " A company of soldiers from Altar, on their way to chas tise the Ceris, having gone in a south-east direction, en camped in that neighborhood. One of their number, who was strolling about one hundred yards from the camp, observed that the bed of a small ditch formed by the rain was of a yellowish color, and on further examination, he collected a number of pieces of gold from the size of a lentil to that of a bean. He reported this to the commander of the detachment, who immediately ordered a careful examination of » the surrounding country, the result being the discovery of gold in all parts in greater or less quanti ties. The gold lay upon the surface, scattered like grains of corn. The gambucinos followed its direction to the west to the distance of six or nine miles, where they encountered a natural phenomenon. The beds of all the ravines within a circumference of more than 12 miles was covered with particles of gold, hundreds of these weighing from one to 27 marcs, and presenting the appearance of having passed through a furnace. ' '¦ — Velasco. After the surface gold was exhausted, shafts were sunk and tunnels run through a vein of calcareous stone in some places, and in others through a stratum of red stone, both of which contained gold, and from which large quantities were extracted. The mine was actively worked until 1803, when a second mine was discovered, called San Francisco, 21 miles east of Cieneguilla, which is about 40 miles south east of Altar. " This mine proved extremely rich, the gold being scattered about on the surface in great abundance, especially in the ravines. In the ravine called San Miguel- ena, the gold was so abundant that three, four, and even five 50 51 marcs were often collected in five* minutes ; the grains being the size of a bean. Large lumps were occasionally discov ered. One found by a Yaqui weighed 100 ounces, and an other weighed 28 marcs. Quitovac, San Antonio, Sonoita, El Zone, La Basura, San Perfecto, Las Palomas, El Alamo, El Muerto, and Vado Seco, are gold mines discovered from 1834 to 1844 in the vicinity of Altar." Mines of Sonora. The mines of Sonora have been worked from time im memorial. The immense number of old mines that have a history clouded with early traditions prove the ancient char acter of the mines of Sonora. Some have been known to reach back oue hundred years, and others have no data to determine the first period in their history. The number, of abandoned mines are considerable, some of which were un questionably exhausted, while others were abandoned on account of the ignorance of the miners on reaching ores that were refractory or hard to work. Right here it might be well to caution American capitalists against buying holes in the ground, solely because, at one period in their history, they had yielded millions. Most of the abandoned mines, or quite a large number of them, and of the richest, have been ruined by the class of minersof Mexico called "gambucinos," a poor class who had no capita], and were in search of " bonanzas," or rich spots, working these solely, and filling the drifts and shafts behind them with rejected ores and rubbish, so that, when they finished a mine it was almost entirely ruined. In some in stances, they have extracted the pillars of old mines of great value, and the walls have fallen in, thus doing an incalculable injury to the mines of the state. There is an old Spanish proverb that tersely states: "It takes another mine to work a mine." This is undoubtedly true of every mine abandoned by these miners. We use strong language on account of the destruction following in the wake of the "gambucinos." The warning of Mr. Mowry to capitalists in his valuable work on Arizona and Sonora, we herewith quote, and leave its lesson with our readers. He says : "As it is desir able that, in the investment of foreign capital there should be no error committed at the outset, than which nothing would retard the progress of this new mining field more; all persons new to the country had better leave abandoned mines 52 alone, unless directed to them by persons; long resident in the country, whose character and veracity are undoubted, and who, after the investigation of all the facts, current ac counts, and traditions, have full confidence in some abandoned mine or other. There are, undoubtedly, many abandoned mines that are well worthy of attention and outlay of capital, but strangers are not likely to know at once which of the . many deserted mines it will be prudent to meddle with. Under the present state of things, the safest investments for new comers will be those mines that have bona fide owners, for, as long as a mine can be worked according to the custom of the country, it is hardly ever abandoned altogether. The owners are fully alive to the value of their possessions, and as they are already in a more or less independent position, and always in expectation of a sudden fortune, they are not anxious to sell unless induced by a fair offer. Ii is not advisable to enter into any arrangement with Mexican miners to furnish capital to open up a mine, but it is better to buy the whole at once.'-' The Mexican people are shrewd and full of grandiose language, extravagant in speech, and due caution in taking their description of properties, with some allowance when they are anxious to sell, is of the first importance. It may be well to remember that where an anxiety to sell is appar ent, that the purchaser will do well to make haste slowly, and look further for investment. The properties that are being worked, and where a fair examination can be made by reliable mining engineers, are the ones to buy. These are mostly not for sale, but they may be purchased on a liberal otter. Another way to obtain properties of value, is to prospect for new mines, and when a discovery is made, by " denouncement " a title may be obtained under the laws of Mexico that is perfectly valid; and indeed, this is one of the safest means toobtain valuable mines; for the whole state is rich in veins of gold and silver. In the appendix may be found an abstract of the mining laws of Mexico, with direc tions as to the obtaining of properties in the republic. As an instance of the unreliability to be placed on repre sentations of the riches of mines that are for sale in Mexico, we give the following data : A company of gentlemen of this city were induced to open up an abandoned mine, called Santa Gertrudis, near Altar, which was represented by the parties interested, to be very rich. The vein first discovered was narrow, but was followed down on the assurance that it would become broader and richer. Extensive plans were entered Upon; a stamp mill and engines purchased, ready to 53 be shipped as soon as the mine was developed sufficiently to warrant the erection of the works. The vein was followed for nearly 200 feet, and some $30,000 were expended. The result was unsatisfactory and the mine was abandoned; the representations being entirely erroneous, to say the least, as far as the experiment progressed. Thus, it is easily seen that experiments in mines iu Sonora are as unsatisfactory as in California; and it is well to be cautioned in advance in regard to abandoned mines and properties that are found up on the market. We could point out other instances with simi- results. The paying mines, as a rule, are not for safe, though there are some exceptions, and no greater mistake can be made than to expect a rich mine in as old a mining state as Sonora, to be bought for a mere nominal sum. There are exceptions, but they are rare; a fair offer has to be made to purchase a valuable mine. Mining Districts of the State of Sonora, and Location and Description of Mines. The Alamos mining district is situated some 240 miles south-east from the port of Guaymas, on the direct road from that point to El Fuerte in Sinaloa, and on the road also from • Arispe on the north to the same place, and from thence to Culiacan and Cosala and Mazatlan. This district is partic ularly rich in silver leads. The principal mines are as fol lows: The most ancient and richest mine is the Quintera, several millions having been taken from it since its discov ery, over 100 years ago. It is of immense depth, and has been abandoned, and is worked occasionally by gambucinos, and is mostly exhausted. There are many old mines of whose origin we can obtain no data, their origin being known only by tradition. Among the Promontorio mines in the small Real of Promontorio, five miles north of Alamos, may be mentioned the Nuestra Senora de Vabranora, which was owned and worked by the family of Alraados for the last century. Don Jose" M. Almado reached a deposit of black ores at a depth of 600 feet with surprising results. The present owners are an English company, who purchased the mine from Mr. Robinson of Guaymas. The ores are reduced at the works situated at Las Mercedes, about two miles east of Alamos. The Promontorio mines contain the best ores in the district. The Promontorio mine, from which the mines were named, especially has produced exceedingly rich and abundant ores. The Tirite mine, to the south of 54 and adjoining the Promontorio, is said to be still richer, but its vein is not so wide. It was formerly owned by James Brady of Guaymas, who reopened it by running a tunnel into the heart of the vein. The pillars in the old shaft and drifts were taken out some years ago by Pascual Gomez, and two of them yielded $80,000. The Dios Padre mine, adjoining the Promontorio on the north, was, prior to 1860, owned and worked by Fernando Aduana, son-in-law of Jose' de Almado. In August, 1860, Mr. Andrew J. Wiley from California purchased the mine, and associated himself with Messrs. W. W. Light, D. Maddox, U. F. Moulton, Skiuke, Backus, Beard, Sanborn, Oatman, Robinson, and L. A. Gar net. The mine was reopened by a shaft and yielded very profitably. The Quinteraand Libertad mines are located north of the Dios Padre. The Pulpito, on the same lead, was discovered by a Mexican, who worked it secretly. In January, 1861, Mr. Benjamin Rountree purchased the rights of both parties and associated with himself Messrs. W. W. Light, Johnson, Price, Thos. Finley, Robert S. Stillwell, J. R. Hardeuburg, and others, and they proceeded to open up the mine, but found it unprofitable and abandoned it. The Nacharama mine is situated nine miles from Alamos, and is one of the most celebrated in the district, but it was abandoned on ac count of the influx of water. In 1860 the mine was pur chased by Messrs. W. T. Robinson, J. G. Baldwin, Thomas H. Williams, Wm. S. Long, Henry Fouche, and others. The mine had the reputation of beiug rich at the time of its purchase. The Vista Nacacharama mine was purchased by Messrs. Robinson, Ira Oatman, Goggins, Bowman and White side, and was called the Sacramento Company's mine. The Mina Grande, Europia, Iglesia, aud Palomos arc well spoken of by tradition. The first two were denounced by Michael Gray in January, 1860, and afterwards sold to John Heard. The Pietras Verdes, 15 miles north of Alamos, and Nar- vayez, in the Promontorio, are filled with water. There are three large haciendas for tne reduction of metals in the city of Alamos, called La Aurora, LaUbalama, and Las Cabras. The district or Real of Minas Nuevas is located about two leagues west of Alamos, and contains many rich mines, among them, San Jose" Ubalama, which is situated six miles from Alamos, and was owned by W. J. Hill and E. B. Johnson, who erected machinery at the mine to work it. Tradition spoke of it as exceedingly rich. The Descubri- 55 doia, Rosario de Talpa, Sambono, and others, are located in this district. The Rosario. de Talpa and the Sambono were once suc cessfully worked by Mr. Robinson of Guaymas, and T. Rob inson Bours, formerly of Stockton, but who now resides at Alamos. The San Jose mine is situated six miles from Alamos, in this district, and was owned by W. J. Hill and E. B. Johnson, in 1861, who placed machinery at the mine to develop its riches, which tradition declared to be fabulous. There are many other mines in the vicinity, as we have only mentioned the principal ones, and the district is unquestion ably one of the richest in Sonora. The mine called Balvaneda, situated in Promontorio, for merly belonged to Jose' Maria Almado. It was formerly rich, and yielded handsomely up to 1861, though the water flowing into it caused such trouble and expense that it was afterward abandoned. La Europita, in the Promontorio, was worked by Don Manuel Salido up to 1861, with good re sults. Lead is found in the ores of the Promontorio mines, winch may be used for smelting, although most of the ore is re duced by mills. La Europita was once one of the richest mines of the district, and with Quintera, produced an im mense amount of silver. These two mines gave to Alamos its greatest celebrity. The former was worked up to 1861. Although Aduana is generally included in the district of Alamos, yet it possesses a group of mines that are distin guished from the Promontorio mines. The Aduana is sit uated about three miles west of Alamos. In this district, which, with that of the Promontorio, comprises an area of eight leagues, with the face of a small mountain range in cluded on the south, are located many old and new mines over the whole area, which Velasco pronounces, that "with out exaggeration, there is not a hand's breadth of the soil which does not contain some vein of the precious metal." La Cotera and Santo Domingo, and Naeacharama and La Liber tad in the Aduana, were all worked up to 1861. Calesaand Los Cangrejos are full of water. There are five haciendas in Aduana for the reduction of ore — one in Talajiossa called Zarragoitas, La Espinosa, and the old hacienda of Promontorio; also, two in Minas Nuevas; making eleven in all. / The district of Alamo3 contributes very brgely to the ex port of silver from Sonora, part of which is exported from the port of Santa Cruz de Mayo, south of Alamos, on the 56 coast, distant about 100 miles, which is said to be one of the favorite points for smuggling bullion out of the state, while the larger proportion is carried to Guaymas. San Ildefonso de la Cieneguilla. This district is located in the western part of Sonora and north-west of Hermosillo about 100 miles, and south-eas of Altar the same distance. Scarcely any region equals this in its number of veins of gold and silver. Its first mine, called Descubridora, was discovered four years after the first pla cers, to which we have referred under the heading of " The Discovery of Gold." This mine yielded abundant quantities of silver ores, the yield of the poorest being five to seven and the best 12 to 15 marcs to the " bulto " of three cargas (900 lbs.). Its owner received from it, in less than four years, $2,000,000. Fifty small establishments for crushing ores were erected and in constant operation, from which large profits were realized. The vein was crossed, after the mine had been worked for five years, by a species of hard rock, called " caballo," which was again repeated. This discouraged its owner, and the pillars were removed, which yielded $500,000, and supports of strong timber exchanged for them; but the gambucinos soon left the mine in ruins. Many other mines were discovered in the neighborhood, but none so rich or abundant in ores. Only one exceeded it in the quantity of its ores, viz : the Cerro Colorado, in the Cieueguita district, six leagues to the east of Cieneguilla, on the right of the road to the placers of Sau Francisco. From the appendix of the work entitled "Sonora," a translation of Francisco Velasco's great work, by Mr. Wm. F. Nye, published in 1861, we quote the following interest ing fact in relation to the Cerro Colorado mine. He says : " The Cerro Colorado mine is situated some eight or nine leagues from the city of Alamos, on the bank of the Mayo River, and derives its name from the reddish color of the mountain in which it is located. It was formerly owned by Castro and Don Manuel Salida, and afterwards by Dr. W. J. Hill, of Alamos, who sold one-half his interest some few months since for $12,000. Messrs. J. S. Garwood, E. D. Wheeler, Michael Gray, and others of San Francisco, were the fortunate purchasers. The last owner of this mine, Don Manuel Salida, took from it more than a million of dollars, and, at the time of his death, gave orders to blow the mine up, which was accordingly carried into effect by his peons. 57 The writer visited the mine in company with Dr. Hill; but, on account of its dilapidated condition, could not explore it. At a depth of 70 feet is a chamber 20 feet in diameter and 25 feet high, the walls of which, impregnated with virgin silver, glittered like diamonds by the light of a solitary can dle. In working the mines of this district, it is not uuusual to discover spots of exceeding richness, called by Mexicans ' bonanzas,' and from one of these, from two to three hun dred thousand dollars are frequently extracted." Gold Mining Districts. The district of San Francisco is located seven leagues to the east of Ildefonso de la Cieneguilla, and was discovered Oct. 4th, 1803, by Teodoro Salazar, who was searching for a mine of which he had received notice. This mine proved extremely rich, the gold being scattered about on the sur face in great abundance, especially in the ravines. The ravine called San Miguelena was the richest spot, and the grains were coarse, being about the size of a bean. Large lumps were occasionally found, one of which weighed 100 ounces, and another 28 marcs. In portions of this mineral region the gold was mixed with white quartz, which led to a ledge of very rich gold-bearing quartz. Here a mine was opened by Teodoro Salazar, and he occasionally struck ex tensive pockets that were very rich. The mine was eventu ally abandoned, and another found one league distant from Sau Francisco, not so rich as the former, but yielding very fine gold, of 22 and 23 carats fine. In the Sierra to the south, veins were found near the creek of San Bias, a small town near the northern border of Sinaloa. The water iu the creek having failed, this mine was abandoned. The annual yield, on an average, of the mine of San Francisco, Velasco puts at from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000. Quitovac, San An tonio, Sonoita, EI Zone, La Basura, San Perfecto, Las Palo- mas, EI Alamo, El Muerto, and Vado Seco, were the gold mines discovered from 1833 to 1844. Since that time, many other mines have been found, bearing both gold and silver. The great drawback to the mines of San Francisco, which are so rich in gold, is the scarcity of water, which has been brought from the river Arituava, 21 miles distant, and com manded fabulous prices. If the waters of die river were couducted to the placers, or artesian wells sunk and reser voirs formed, the mines would yield immensely. The district of Mulatos is located to the north-east of 58 Alamos, and nearly due west of Jesus Maria in Chihuahua, upon the slope of the Sierra Madre towards the gulf, and is called the Mineral of San Jose* de Mulatos, which was dis covered in 1806. Two gold mines were here found, from which were taken several thousand marcs of gold, 24 carats fine. The region is located near the eastern border of the state, in the pass of Mulatos, about 70 leagues, or 210 miles, from Hermosillo. It is said that several millions were ex tracted from these mines. The gold was first found in a small stream which descends to the river below. Adjoining this ravine and near the placers, three elevated crests were discovered, one of them over one hundred varas in height, which were intersected in all directions by small threads or veins of gold-bearing white earth, or rotten quartz, that were so rich that the ore of inferior quality was sold at $12 and $15 per arroba (25 pounds), while the rcihest sold for $200. These crests have been extensively worked. The gold is nearly pure, the lowest ore being 23 quilates, while it some times reached 3£ grains. A number of Indians at first work ed the vein by being suspended by ropes from the side of the rocks from the crests above aud picking out the earth with wooden sticks and knives. The mines were abandoned some years ago, but have since been denounced by an Amer ican company, who are working them so profitably, we un derstand, that they have lately refused $1,000,000 for them. The ores are reduced by an extensive stamp-mill, located on the Mulatos River, below the mine. This river has some times been called the Aribechi and Papigochi. The district of San Xavier is distant from the port of Gua\'mas in a north-east direction, and about the same dis tance from Hermosillo, approachable from both points by an excellent wagon road. This is one of the oldest and richest mineral districts of the state. There are many mines situ ated within a radius of turee miles — namely, Los Bronces, owned by Don Alsua of Guaymas; Las Cruzecitas, Las Aguas, Senor, Las Cumbres, La Division, La Naguilla, La Barranca, Las Animas, La Sierra, and many others. Among the most important, Los Bronces may be mentioned, which is work ed by Don Matias Alsua of Guaymas, who has erect ed exteusive reduction works, with stamps, barrels, fur naces, etc. His ores are worked by the German or Frey- burg process, and the mine has yielded about $1,000 per day. Near this mine is located the La Barranca, in which a vein of coal was found nine feet in thickness. It is supposed to be anthracite, but this is denied by some experts, who 59 claim it is more of the nature of bituminous coal. We ex amined a piece of this same coal, and it appeared to us to be similar to the bituminous coal of Pennsylvania. About 200*yards above the Los Bronces mine is situated ' the Las Cruzecitas, which is owned by the Las Cruzecitas Mining Company. It has been extensively developed, and ten tons have been raised daily ; and when further devel oped, will yield much greater quantities. The vein, which is particularly well defined, increases in width and richness as it descends ; and at a depth of 145 feet, the vein was nine feet wide. The ore of the pillars is very rich ; while that from the mine averaged over $150 per ton, all through. The " Petanque " has rich sulphurets of silver, which are extracted from the lower excavations, and assay over $3,000 per ton. The Company have erected reductiou works at the mines. La Naguilla is situated on the highest hill in this region, in sight of the main road ; its ores were formerly abundant, and their "ley " in silver, ten marcs to the carga. It however filled with water, and although an attempt was made to work it out, it was abandoned upon reaching a " caballo." Las Auimas is also one of the old mines, and is now choked with earth ; the " ley " of its ores was four or five marcs to four arrobas. Its vein was narrow, but con tained an abundance of ferruginous ore, which, though re jected by the miners in former times, yield three to four marcs of silver to the carga. The amalgamating ores are also abundant, and of about the same " ley.'' In Los Afur- nos, the vein is half a vara in breadth, and was profitably worked by Castillo.' The mines of La Grande were equally rich with the others. The rest of the ores of San Xavier are smelting ores, or reducible by fire, with some exceptions. Enormous quantities of silver were remitted to the City of Mexico from this district, and prove it to have been very rich. " The mine of Zubiate is situated eleven leagues (33 rules) south-east of Hermosillo. It was discovered in the year 1813. Its first owners were not able to pay their ex penses, and sold out to two persons called Monge and Muiioz, who derived a handsome profit from a mine hitherto worthless. Muiioz, having acquired sufficient wealth, sold his interest to Francisco Monteverde, who continued the op eration, in company with Monge, uutil the death of the latter, who left a large fortune. Monteverde then became sole owner of the mine," and worked it up to the time of his death, leaving it to his son, M. Monteverde, ex-Governor 60 of Sonora, who is now in this city. " Its average ley did not exceed five to six marcs to three cargas of 300 lbs. each, or about from $36 to $45 per ton ; but occasionally ores are fouud which yield two to three marcs ($3.20 to each marc) per arroba of 25 lbs. each, or from $480 to $720 per ton. Water flows into it, and for some time the sole profits of the owner were derived from furnishing supplies to his work men." Governor Monteverde informs us, that since the publication of Francisco Velasco's work on Sonora, from which we quote the foregoing, that he has found the mine to become very profitable, and it now assays from $80 up to $1,000 per ton, having reached ores on a lower level that are very rich. This mine is for sale, and can be purchased of Governor Monteverde. He also informs us that $12,000,- 000 have been extracted from the mine since its discovery, or in a little over 67 years. San Antonio de la Huerta. This district is located about 15 miles from San Xavier, and contains La Minas Prietas, Musidora, and other valuable mines, both of gold and silver. The Minas Prietas was purchased of Mr. R. 1). Johnson, of Guaymas, by the Jan- nin Bros., of this city, and sold to a company in New York. The point of location on the maps of this mine is erroneous, and should be at the point marked Haygame, about 35 miles south-east of Hermosillo. A new 40-stamp mill is being erected for this mine. There was an old 10-stamp mil] on it, which, with arastras, were used to reduce the ore. Cieneguita District. The following official report on the Mineral de la Ciene guita, of Robert L. D'Aumaille, official assayer of Sonora, is copied from the valuable work of Mr. Mowry, " on Sonora and Arizona"; our object being to give all the information available on the mines of Sonora, aud also within the limits of the states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Sinaloa. On the mines of this district, his .report reads as follows : " About 300 yards from the hacienda is the mine La Carjona, of trifling depth. The metal is plombiferous, vein one foot in width, and assays $16 to the 100 pounds. The water from the rivulet adjoining, has filled the shaft, which is not deep. Two miles distant in same direction, lies the hill that coiir tains the veins of La Chipiona, La Colorada, La Plomosa, 61 and another fallen in, whose very name has perished. The veins have been opened in many parts by the Spaniards, who content themselves almost invariably with sinking shafts for the extraction of the superior decomposed ores, abandoning the mine on reaching sulphurets, from ignorance of the proc ess for the extraction of silver. In these sulphurets, and below the old galleries are situated the present workings. La Colorada, on the north side of the spur, is a portion of the Veta Madre (or main vein.) The workings are dry and firm; the galleries 50 feet in length and 45 in width. An other shaft, 22 feet, is opened 80 feet farther down the mount ain, where the ores are uncovered to the same width. The vein in the lower places is about 18 feet in width, in parts 30; running north and north-west, with an inclination to the south-east of about 15 degrees, au excellent course and dip in Mexican mines. The assay was $172 silver, per ton, and traces of gold. La Chipiona is also upon the Veta Madre; vein same direction and dip as La Colorada; shafts, two, 30 feet apart; depth 30 feet, and partly full of water. The vein is 20 to 36 inches; same depth, and quality of metal uniform. The ores are more difficult of reduction, being bisulphurets of iron, with a compound sulphuret of silver, lead, iron, and copper; by the German process, assays 160 ounces per ton. The ores of La Colorada by same proc ess, gave 212 to 320 ounces. There is not half the superficial excavations of the ancient mines, which have been cleaned out from this veiu, and the falling in of the labores. The vein can be traced 250 yards, across the crest of the hill, up to the mouth of the La Colorada. Above the main vein is a cross- vein of 4 to 6 inches, cutting it nearly at right angles. The ore is said to yield 318 ounces of silver per ton. Nine hundred feet distant, in a straight line, in a spur of the same cerro, is the adit of La Plomosa; the upper workings being badly planned, have fallen in from the pressure of rubbish in the old drifts, and the miners have driven a level in the solid rock 150 feet farther down. The ores are. ar gentiferous galenas, with a matrix of stratified ' calishe,' and are said to yield 18 per cent, of lead, and 96 ounces sil ver, per ton, up to 190 ounces. Both this vein and La Chi piona rtfii across the valley and strike the opposite mountain. Old mining shafts are seen all the way across at different points. These mines can all be drained by a tunnel, as the Chipiona debouches upon an abrupt descent, by many hun dred feet. The walls are firm and vein regular, presenting every indication of permanence. A quarter of a mile south- 62 west of the Yerba Buena, arc the mines of Los Tajos. The hill-side is covered with the buried workings of the ancients, and the superior position of the vein is in a very precarious condition. The vein is something like one-half a yard in width, with a heterogeneous medley of ores. It runs com pletely through the mountain, as very considerable works are visible on the opposite side; but whether 'en metales,' or not is unknown. " The ores are said to yield 60 ounces per ton, but they are loaded with titaniferous and zinciferous metals. La Descomulgada is situated about a league west of south-west of the Yerba Buena. Its matrix is a very hard, silicious rock, which crumbles with great rapidity when exposed to air and moisture. The vein is said to be wide, and the su perficial ores easily worked, costing $1.00 per 300 lbs., and to be easy of reduction. " La Yerba Buena is a modern mine, said to have been very rich. The mouths have fallen in a few hundred yards from the Yerba Bueca, on the road to the Descomulgada. Nothing more is known concerning it. " Las Ostimuris, on the road to Yerba Buena, about half way from the Cieneguita, has two open mouths, and is full of water, the drifts running under the brook. Mr. Monge says it was abandoned on the outbreak of the Opatas, and as the shafts were shallow, the vein wide, and the ores yield ing 450 oz. per ton, he entered into a contract with a skill ful miner and put up whims and machinery for drain age. His partner died just as they were approaching com pletion; the Apaches drove off their animals; and, being ig norant of mining, he abandoned the mine. " La Prieta is on the rancho of Matarchi, about six miles east of Cieneguita. The veiu is from four to six feet wide. The opening is merely a trial pit. The ores of the outcrop are a melange of different sulphurets, heavily charged with copper. " El Potrero, 24 miles distant, is said to be an immense 'clavo' of volcanic origin, and unknown extent, at the in tersection of two veins. The ore is without alloy of silver, but contains much oxide of lead and spar. It forms an ex cellent flux for the ores of La Prieta, and Los Tajds. The cost of carriage is the only expense. " La Viruela, east half a mile from the site of La Armar- gosa, is a lofty hill, from which large quantities of gold have been extracted, but the whole hill has fallen in. " La Armagosa, and the rivulet which runs beneath El Re- 63 alito, are constantly searched for gold. The water of the creek is not sufficiently abundant for machinery, and an ex amination was made of La Armagosa, one-quarter mile east, where a stream was found that is permanent aud may be conducted by a tunnel. It furnishes a considerable volume of water, with a natural fall of 100 feet within a space of 100 yards in its own valley. " Yerba Buena is three and a half miles south-east from the real, four and a half from La Chipiona, and four from Los Tajos. • This district is located near Sahuaripa, about 50 miles south-east. The river is the Arroyo de los Ostimuris, which is permanent ten months, and sufficient to turn the wheels during the remainder of the year. Wood is abund ant, and consists of oak, pine, juniper and ash. Pasturage, everywhere. Animals are said to fatten all the year round. Salt can be purchased at from $8 to $10 per carga of 300 lbs. ; wheat, $6 per fanega. Freight from Guaymas,$80 to $90 per ton; from Sahuaripa, $3 per carga. Cattle are purchased from $10to$l5; hides, $1.00 each; mules and horses, dear; powder of the country, $7.00 per 25 lbs; flour, $7 per ar- roba." The ores are hard and require blasting, but, as seen before, are very rich. "The Real of the Cieneguita embraces the mines known as La Chipiona, La Colorada, La Cajona, La Prieta, and the vein of copper in Matarchi, La Descomulgada and Los Ta jos, La Viruela, and El Realito, San Rafael, Ostimuris, Yer ba Buena, and El Potrero. All of these mines are within a radius of three miles. " The principal vein appears to be that of La Chipiona. The origin of the real is unknown. The general belief is that it is the long-lost Real of Tayopa, famous in the early Spanish annals. The ores of the Chipiona, Colorada, and others, are refractory, being mostly hard ores and sulphurets. The titles to the mines, except those of El Potrero or La Prieta, aud the copper vein in Matarchi, are on the ranchos of La Yglesia, a fine grazing estate of eighteen square miles in extent, belonging to and in the occupancy of Don Jose Yrenco Monge. The title is said to be perfect and undis puted, a Spanish grant of Carlos IH. It is wooded aud watered, and contains sufficient arable land. The rancho of Matarchi, which bounds it on the westward, is a beautiful pine forest, with some excellent cultivated land, containing nine square miles, well watered, and is likewise a Spanish grant of the last century. It contains the veins of La Prieta and the outcrop of copper. 64 " The mines Los Tajos, La Descomulgada, and El Realitc with four pcrtenencias, El Potrero, and La Viruella, are eacl the extent of La Chipiona's and La Colorada's possessior which was given by the Prefect of Sahuaripa ou the 13th o September; is 1,800 feet in length; width, 600 feet on L Plomosa, and 1,350 feet in width, including all the presen workings in the three miues. The sites called El Potrero La Armagosa, La Cieneguita, and Yerba Buena, were de nounced as "Haciendas de Benefico," or positiou for reduc tiou works. The Real of Cieneguita is situated in a prett; little dell, embosomed among lofty mountains, almost at tin foot of the Sierra de San Ignacio, and partly embraced b; the unbroken ranges of the great Sierra Madre. Thes< mines are now worked by a 30-stamp mill, and are produc ing immense profits. "It is distant, perhaps, by the road, 42 miles south-east o Sahuaripa, nine miles south-east of Tarachi, and 72 miles wes of Mulatos. The real contains about 20 acres of cultivate( ground, and is supplied by a spring and perpetual brook which traverses its center. The climate is mild. In winter the snow falls occasionally two feet, and ice forms two inche thick. The road leads from Sahuaripa through mountaii passes. From Aribechi to the real it is all mountain, excep the plain of Las Cazadores, in the rancho Aoyua Blanca and the valley of the Rio de Ostimuris, from which the roa< runs from Santa Fe' to Tarachi. A considerable portion o the real is covered by the foundations of houses aud ruin of smelting works, or immense piles of scoriae and rubbish proving incontestably to the practical eye the vast extent o the ancient mining operations." And another proof, wi might add, of the former richness of these mines. We giv this extended description, in order to show how au abaii doned mine looks to the traveler as well as the mining engineers, although these same mines have since beei reopened and worked by a 30-stamp mill, as before stated We are indebted to Mr. John A. Robinson, of this city for the following : " Some fifteen miles north-east from the famous gold min of Mulatos, lies a cluster of mines known as ' Mineral de 1 Cieneguita.' There are some fifteen mines in all ; the prir cipal of them are the Chipiona, the Colorada, and the Pic mosa ; the two first being very rich in silver and gold, am the last in lead and silver. The country surrounding offer every facility for mining and reductiou works. An abund ance of water, heavy forests of pine, hemlock, various specie 65 of oak, juniper, etc.. Building-stone and fire-clay in :he im mediate - vicinity, with pasturage for the animals. The mines are at present worked on a small scale by some Ger man gentlemen ; but parties are now examining them with the view of establishing reduction works on an extensive scale by the lixiviation process. These mines are extreme ly rich in ' ley,' and abundant in ores. Some sixty miles to the east of the above are situated those extremely rich copper mines called 'Huacarbo,' in the Barranca de Tarra- rique. Here also the facilities for working are great. The river Yaqui runs immediately at the foot of these im mense lodes ; and the country is thickly covered by heavy timber. The Yaqui River, in places, runs over the copper- vein, leaving the ores in sight for a long distance. Both of the foregoing mining districts were fully explored by Robert L. D'Aumaille, a most famous mining expert, chemist aud amalgamist, sent there by Don Juan A. Robinson, formerly United States Consul for Guaymas, Sonora, and at present residing in this city. D'Aumaille reports that the copper vein is intersected in different places, by narrow gold veins of a very rich 'ley.'" The district of Babicanora was discovered at the end of the last century, eight leagues south-east of Arispe and four from Sonoquipe, in the Sierra, running north and south. It was, at one time, very rich, and had a hacienda for the re duction of ores below Sonoquipe, one mile from the bank of the creek. It was abandoned by its owners some years ago, until Mr. Hunter, an American, lately obtained possession of two of the mines. One is called Mendoza, which has a vein three feet wide, and assays $80 per ton in silver. The other is Santa Ana, aud has a vein one vara in width, (33 inches) with an assay similar to the other. Mr. Hunter has erected a ten-stamp mill, and is now working the mines profitably. The hacienda of Gov. Pesquiera, called Las Delicias, is situated about 20 miles south-west from Arispe, and con sists of about 30,000 acres of good land, about one-fifth of which is first-class agricultural land, and being in the neighborhood or west of the Sonora River, the soil is some what of the same nature, and produces wheat, corn and other cereals, as other lands on the Sonora River. The bal ance is good grazing land. The Santa Elena mine is located about four and a half miles from the hacienda, on a ridge of mountains, and is owned by Gov. Pesquiera, who erected a ten-stamp mill at the hacienda. 66 It is not in working order, and is fast going to pieces. The mine has been mostly worked by arastras, and pro duced, in one year, $200,000, but has never been properly worked. The best ore assays $5 per ounce bullion, gold and silver. The shaft, is about 200 feet iu depth, with a varying vein, sometimes reaching 15 feet in width. The mine is dry, with walls of porphyry and quartzite. The Curcurpe district also contains many mines, among which may be mentioned the ancient mine of El Tajo, which is now full of water andin a ruinous condition, having been destroyed by the gambucinos. The Santa Teresa de Jesus mining district is located 69 miles south of the boundary line of the United States, on the northern frontier of the State of Sonora, and 36 miles from Magdalena; the latter being only about 140 miles from Tucson. We copy from a report of Mr. L. Jannin on the mines of this district, which has just been published, the following : " Leaving Cucurpe, and passing by the cultivated fields of its inhabitants, we fiud the road to the mines leading up the San Miguel River, sometimes emerging into an open plain. After following the course of this river some twelve miles, aud passing El Pintor and the deserted Pueblo de Dolores, the road leads us over table-lands and meadows, the former adorned with oak and ash trees, the latter covered with waving grass, until we reach a broad belt of thickly wooded land, where the San Miguel first makes its appearance in the dry season. From this point the river always contains running water. In the rainy season it rushes violently along, sometimes overflowing its banks, but in the dry season it floats along tamely, scarcely covering its bed. All the land between Cucurpe and this point is of the richest descrip tion. It is unsurpassed in fertility by any portion of Sonora, and grain of all kinds can be raised without the slightest trouble. In former times, the whole valley was populated, aud the number of cultivated fields and the numerous herds of graz ing cattle, proclaimed the wealth of the inhabitants. But the continued incursions of the Apaches since 1832, by driving off the unresisting inhabitants and gathering the harvests they had planted, have depopulated and ruined the country. Deserted ranches are met along the road. No one lives here. No one dares to plant grain, and, as it is here, so it is also throughout the northern part of the State. Leaving the belt of wooded land that I have mentioned, the 67 road still takes us over meadows and table lands, up the valley of the San Miguel and toward its source, the Canon de Santa Teresa, a distance of 15 miles. Here, low ranges of hills, isolated peaks, and broken country, becoming more and more frequent, herald our approach to a mountain range, and soon we are in the canon, with steep hills on each side. The range of mountains in the foot-hills, in which are the mines of Santa Teresa, is known by the name of Sierra Azul, and its culminating peak is the Cerro Azul, which towers high above all the range, forming a most prominent object for a distance of over forty miles. The general course of the range is north and south, but spurs of the Cerro ex tend in all directions. The country is mountainous in the extreme. There are no table-lands, no valleys, and no open *space of any extent, nor are the ranges of foot-hills contin uous, but are broken up by side ravines aud canons, down which, in rainy seasons, the water finds its way to the vari ous arroyos. These arroyos form the circuitous roads by which one point is reached from another. The position of the Mineral de Santa Teresa is correctly indicated by Col onel de Fleury's late map of Sonora. From it can be seen the relative position of the Mineral to the neighboring pueblos, owing to the mountains around it. The only broad road leading to the mines is the one I have described. All others are, and can only be, foot-trails. The mines are upon three distinct veins, known as the Trinidad, Sau An tonio, and the Santa Biviana. The openings on the Trini dad and San Antonio are in the Real de Santa Teresa, while those on the Santa Biviana vein are in a neighboring real of the same name. The Real de Santa Teresa is approached by a canon of that name, and is situated some three miles from its outlet. The bed of this canon is a dry arroyo, and its sides are formed by a range of foot-hills rising up several hundred feet, and. inclined towards the bed at an angle varying from 50 to 70 degrees. The arroyo varies in width from 50 to 300 yards, and forms the only road to the mines. In the rainy season, the water flowing down from the various ra vines and from the Salto, (the source of the San Miguel) fills the arroyo and renders freighting in wagons difficult, but does not impede transit by mules and pack-trains. At the time of my visit it was perfectly dry, aud generally re mains so during nine months of the year. The Canon de Santa Teresa has a generally north-easterly 6S direction, although subject to many turns. lu the neighbor hood of the mines, its direction is as indicated, and the veiu pursues a nearly parallel course. The mountain mass of . this Mineral — in fact, the whole range — is a hard, dark-blue limestone, distinctly stratified, and dipping to the east at an angle of 50 degrees. Its strike is nearly north and south. The course of the veins is contrary to the stratification of the limestone, which forms its walls; and they have all the appearance of being true fissure veins. The walls are gen erally firm and enduring. The Trinidad vein crops out at various places on the northerly slope of the canon. Its general direction is north east by south-west ; but it changes its course with the slope of the hills, and at places it is heaved by faults and cross- veins. The outcrop pings can be traced at various heights above the head of the canon, until it reaches the openings called El Arroyo. Here the vein leaves the northerly slope of the canon, crossing over the arroyo in a diagonal direc tion, and finally emerges on the opposite slope, still preserv ing the same general direction. The San Antonio vein, on the other hand, is entirely on the southerly slope of the canon. Its general direction is north-east by north, but it also changes its course with the slopes of the hills. These two veins converge toward one another ; but although they have been followed for many aweary mile, their point of junction has not been discovered. The general appearance of the out cropping is the same in the two veins, with some slight local differences. It is a hard, compact quartz, sometimes thickly impregnated with peroxyd of manganese, and at others, merely colored by its presence. It is seldom found with a honey-comb structure. At places the veins outcrop boldly to the height of several feet, and at others, disappear be neath the soil. The width of the vein does not remain con stant ; but the general average may be put down at two-and- a-half to three feet. The San Antouio vein shows somewhat larger at the various openings than does the Trinidad ; but the ore in the latter is found more uniformly distributed. Wherever the veins outcrop, openings have been made. On the Trinidad vein there are six in number ; and on the San Antonio, there are seven. The different mines opened, are the El Loreto, that assayed, at a depth of 30 feet, $70 to $80 per ton ; vein small at surface, broadens out to 2i feet in the shaft; angle of inclination, 40 deg. north-west. La Cruz lies north-east of the Loreto ; depth of shaft, 30 feet ; assay, $70 to $90, in first opening ; second, depth 60 feet ; 69 vein 2 to 24 feet thick ; dips about 45 deg.; assay, same as former. La Falda assayed $118 per ton. The Trinidad is the principal mine ; shaft 150 feet deep, with some of the pillars extracted ; some left standing, that would as say over $80 per ton, while the ore in the lower gallery assays $150. Water comes into the lower levels. The miners, in abandoning the property, have of course left no rich deposit in the mines ; but the evidences are that an abundance of rich ore must have been extracted. The Ar royo mine was said to be very rich, and is 70 feet deep ; filled with water, but could be cleared for about $600. The San Francisco is 30 feet deep ; the ore sometimes occurs in large bunches and pockets (or " bonanzas") ; sometimes in small nodules, and sometimes disseminated throughout the mass iu minute particles. The vein is never free from metal. The Sau Antonio vein has seven openings, viz., San Pedro, La Burra, Cousolacion, San Antonio, Corazon de Maria, Santa Gertrudis, and Las Animas. Of the first three I can say but little in their present state, as they all need clearing out. The Consolacion is iu a better state of preservation than the other two, and a fair average ore can be taken from it. The San Antoiiio enjoys a great reputatiou; but at present it is in a dilapidated condition. The mine is filled with rubbish. In the Corazon de Maria the miners left nothing rich in sight. Santa Gertrudis contains good ores, and will assay $200 to $500 per tou. The average value of all I saw at the mouth is $270 per ton. The others will average $80 per ton." By comparing the locations on the map of Col. Fleury on Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, and Durango, it will be ob served that these mines, of which we have reproduced a con densed description from Mr. Janiiin's report, are located but a short distance, about forty miles, south-east of Sauta Cruz, aud in the neighborhood of the richest mineral and agricult ural region of the state, outside of the rich lands of the Yaqui River. La Alameda is situated in the Nacameri district, 21 miles west of the pueblo of Nacameri. This mine was discoyered in 1835, and was once extensively worked. The mines of this district are all of silver, with a very good "ley," about $60 per ton. Batuco also possesses some mines. The Rio Chico district is in the south-western part of the state, 120 miles from Hermosillo, near the Yaqui River, is one of the most ancient mineral regions of Sonora, and in the last century produced great quantities of gold and silver. 70 Placers of gold were also discovered here. The gambuci nos arc still working some of the mines. El Aguaja is an old mineral region of the last century. Its principal mines are Guillamena, Ubarbol, and La Grande. These mines are mostly abandoned, though worked by gambucinos. Suaque contains many mines of gold and silver, which are but little worked. La Trinidad is one of the oldest mineral regions of the State, situated at the base of the Sierra Madre, on a branch of the river Mayo. Its area is comprised almost en tirely of mines, the principal ones of which are worked by Mr. Alsua of Guaymas, by a modern stamp-mill, who is tak ing out in bullion, monthly, about $100,000. This district is reached by a road from Sahuaripa through Babicanora, south, on the Bapepito River, a branch of the Yaqui ; thence to Conichi, Ouava, Rio Chico, Nury ; thence north-east to Caraja, San Nicolas, Santa Rosa, and Trinidad. The district of Bacuachi is in the northern part of the State, as well as the copper mines of La Cananea. The gold found in this district is coarse, and pieces were found weigh ing 25 marcs. In fact, the whole of this region is covered with veins of gold and silver, and are as yet undeveloped. We have called especial attention to this district in another place. Among the old mines, we may mention the Cajon, six leagues from the San Francisco placers and twelve from Cieneguilla, and those of the hacienda of Santa Rosa, near Cajon, which yielded great quantities of silver from 1798 to 1802. The average proportion of the ley of the best or picked ores was six, eight and twelve marcs to the arroba; of the poorer or second class, two to four marcs. There was a scarcity of ore in the Santa Rosa mines, on ac count of the hardness and narrowness of the veins. In the mines of Sau Francisco, water is scarce to the extreme, and could not be obtained nearer than 21 miles, and sold in the dry season at $1 per barrel. The timber, also, in the vi cinity, is unfit for building. These mines are very rich, but the expense is too great to work them profitably. The miues of Vado Seco, to the north of San Ignacio Pueblo, on the road to Tucson, are re ported to be rich, as well as the famous placer of Sobia, on the main road to the city of Alamos, half way from Bar- royaca. The Cajon district contains a group of some three or four mines, and are all owned by a New York company. The nephew of General Magruder is the superintendent, and 71 owns one-half interest in the mines. The mine contains gold and silver-bearing quartz, which assays, on an average, about $65 to $70 per ton. The deepest shaft is only down about 125 feet. Rich spots are occasionally found in the vein, but after they get down a certain distance, the veins commence to pinch out. Some of the veins have entirely disappeared. The mine has, however, paid well, as they have taken out already enough ore to pay for the.claim, mills and expenses, and have now on the dump, in sight, about $50,000 worth of ore. The mill has ten stamps, and is not quite completed, but will shortly commence to reduce the ore. The Las Cedras, belonging to Don Santo Terminal, is sit uated in the district of Barroyaca, near the small town of Teropaco, 135 miles from Guaymas, in the direction of Alamos, south-east. This is a very rich mine, and has been extensively worked. It is surrounded by rich, arable lands, and a permanant stream of water flows in the vicinity of the mine. Negotiations are being made to purchase it. During the years 1863 and 1864, many new mines were opened, among which were Las Cruzecitas, Corral Viejo and El Refugio, the latter on the border of Chihuahua, and the mines of La Cananea. On the Cerro Priet*, between the ranchos de la Palma and La Casa Pintada, is an old mine, called Tarasca, almost forgotten. Tradition places it very rich, although it has not been worked for over a century. Iu this same neighbor hood are many old mines, and vestiges of buildings may yet be seen on their antiquated sites. Iu the district of San Jose de Gracias, a celebrated mine was worked in 1809-1810, by Juan Jose Carumina, who expended all his capital in bailing out the water from the old shaft, and in two or three hours, after clearing it of water, he took out a lump of ore weighing 75 pouuds, which yielded 112 ouuees of pure silver. The water began to gain on him again, so that in his effort to keep it down, he broke his bailing apparatus, and having contracted some debts, he could not return to his labor ; the mine refilled in six or seven hours, aud he abandoned the enterprise. A company afterwards under took to clear the mine, but after expending a considerable sum, " abandoned the mine on account of an accident to one of the workmen," says Velasco. This seems incredible; but for the fact that the mines are mostly worked by Yaqui Indians, who are very superstitious, and believe that devils inhabit the mines, says Ruxton, in his "Adventures in Mexi co." The accident to one of their number would prevent 72 others from working in a haunted mine, or one inhabited by evil spirits, in their imagination. Velasco further says : " Some of the old inhabitants of San Jose* de Gracia, in speaking of this mine, testify that the vein in many places was of virgin silver ; and that in others the ore yielded fifty per cent, of pure silver ; also, that there was a stratum of red earth that yielded great quantities of gold, they having frequently witnessed the extraction of two or three hundred marcs on one single occasion. The depth of this mine ex ceeds one hundred varas. " Taking into account the unreli ability of traditions, and the extravagance of some Mexi cans, still there may be some truth in the tradition, as the famous mines of Batopilas, in Chihuahua, and others, have produced like results. If the mine is still in the condition that Carumina found it, a steam pump would soon reveal its hidden treasures. The mines of La Cananea, 80 years ago or more, were worked on a large scale with great energy, by the house of Guea, of Chihuahua. We understand that these mines, or the principal ones, are owned and worked by Gov. Pesquiera, of Sonora, and are now bonded by him to Eastern par ties. Nevertheless, we give a description of the district from the pen of the celebrated chemist, Robert L. D'Au maille, mining engineer and official assayer for the State of Sonora. General Pesquiera has worked five mines in this district, viz: El Ronquillo, La Chivatera, San Rafael, (or La Plomosa) La Terdilla, aud La Cobre Grande. The report was written by M. D'Aumaille in i860, and is as follows: " La Cananea is situated about 36 miles south-west of the Presidio of Santa Cruz, about 54 miles south-east of San Pedro, probably 35 miles southerly from Fort Buchanan, and not far from the American line. The mines worked are seven in number, of which th<> principal are El Ronquillo, La Chivatera, San Rafael, Santo Domingo, La Mina de Cobre Pobre, and La Mina de Plomo de Arvallo. In addition to these mines are La Mariquilla, (of white copper) El-Tajo, (the ancient mine), and others— 7 ii fact, the whole region is strongly mineralized aud of the most prepossessing ex terior. The hacienda de Beneficio y Perez y Arvallo is on the El Ritto, a permanent stream at the foot of the mount ains, about a mile aud a half from the mi'iss. The greater portion of the road is excellent, aud the i emaivider can be readily made so. The hacienda is a mass of ruins, over grown with rank vegetation. The machinery was destroyed 73 by natives carrying away the iron available. The situation is pleasant, on the border of a vast plain covered with wild mustangs or horses, and which stretches away to San Pedro, and contains much arable, with any quantity of grazing land, and lies immediately around the site. Half a mile or soup the valley brings us to the mine of El Ronquillo, called also from its refractory ores, La Maletiosa, with its ancient ha- cieuda. This mine was the property of Arvallo, but the miners were driven off by the Apaches. El Ronquillo has a thickness of from three and a half to four feet of very good ore, worked to a depth of 80 feet. It has several shafts full of water to the brim, which comes from copious springs in the lower workings, and a ravine which passes across the vein, and from its situation upon the gentle slope of a hill which gradually merges into the plain beneath, it cannot be drained by a tunnel, but recourse must be had to steam machinery. The ore of this mine assayed from $30 to $80 per ton. Passing through the ravine, copper croppings are seen. One-quarter of a mile further, is located the mine of La Chivatera, situated on a steep declivity, admirably adapted to tunnel drainage, aud is half full of water. It bears every external evidence of being a powerful vein, but we are told that it is really an irregular deposit. Three hundred yards higher up lies a great open cellar, for I can compare it to nothing else, with a small pile of refuse lying at one side. This is the mine of Tajo, of San Rafael. Judging from the small amount of earth visible, and the statement of the old administrador, it is nearly a solid mass of ore. You have ore on all sides in the level, so that it is impossible to tell where the vein is. This ore is ductile and most easily reducible. It flows like water in the furnace. The supply is apparently inexhaustible. Further up the glen is the Mina de Plomo de Arvallo, of the same character as San Rafael. The ores of these mines appear to consist princi pally of oxide and sulphate of lead; although vast masses of galena are found, and are so soft that a single barretero can throw down many tons a day, while the cost of extrac tion is nothing. The shafts appear of trivial dimensions, yet they have been worked from time immemorial, aud the litharge or jugos, from San Rafael, have supplied all north- em Sonora with that necessary article ; and they have even formed an article of export to Jesus Maria, anil other great mining districts of Central Chihuahua. The ore of the Cobre Pobre Mine in the vicinity is boundless in extent, but 74 of inferior quality. Near this point is also located the great vein of La Mariquilla. We have been assured that it was in the sierra of La Mariquilla, twelve miles to the north. This mine, from its alleged dimensions, and the richness of its ores, has great interest attiched to it, as the cause of its abandonment was the fact of its producing white copper, something like the " paktong" of China, or the white cop per of Heidelburghausen, the prototype of German silver. But the accounts of this mine are so obscure, conflicting and contradictory, that nothing can be made of it, but actual discovery of the mine. Some have denied the existence of this mine or vein, and others claim to have smelted it, who pronounced it an alloy of copper and silver. El Tajo, the most ancient mine, is a huge rent in the earth like the Pamys mine in Iglesia, but the ores changed at the depth of 30 feet, suddenly, into pyrites. It is probable from analogy that these pyrites are argentiferous.' Immense masses of black rock were abandoned by the ancient miners in the walls, under the supposition, probably, that they were black slate, which were subsequently assayed and proved to be a semi-stratified silicate of the dinoxide of copper. Other mines of argentiferous galena, varyiug from 12 to 320 ounces per ton, are alleged to exist near the Ojo de Agua de Arvalla. Besides the oak, there are vast and most accessible forests of chamuuque, a species of pitch pine of great strength and durability, excellently adapted for ma chinery and building materials. The mines are accessible by a good wagon road via Santa Cruz from Fort Buchanan, Tubac, La Piedra Parade, and Guaymas, and are surrounded by the great depopulated ha ciendas of San Bernardino, El Ojo de Agua de Arvalla, an other Ojo de Agua, Cuitahaca, El Agua Escondida, Las Animas, and Banamichi. Another road, called a wagon road, but poorly deserving the name, passes by Eacuachi, Arispe, Ures, and Hermosillo, to Guaymas. Its position is romantic and delightful. Pas tures exist green iu Bacuachi all the year round, and of the most nutritious quality. Cultivable land of considerable extent is found in the same hacienda, which is the natural feeder of the real. The mines themselves are said, by Felipe Perez, to be on public land, a narrow strip or sobrante between two ranchos. All the necessaries of a great estab lishment — building material and fluxes— abound in excess. Building stone, granite, fine marble, tepustete, arenillas, 75 jugos and syndas are plentiful; and, during the search for the lost mines of Las Lamas, Espiritu Santo, on the road to Banamichi,a vast deposit of most refractory furnace sand stone was found, the first seen in Sonora. The water is good aud the locality healthful, and iu proximity to the American military stations of Fort Buchananand Arritoypa," and the Southern Pacific R. R., which passes within about 150 miles of the district. " Ange Robert L. D. Amuaille, Ensayador Oficial de Estado de Sonora, 29 de Mayo de 1860." La Basura is the first mining region discovered in the country of the Papajos, and is situated twenty-four miles north-west of Caborca. Its veins are numerous, especially those of gold ; but although they are of marvelous richness, this lasts but a short time, as the deposits extend but a short distance below the surface, San Perf ecto was the second dis covery made in the Papajo country. Quitovac was the third discovery, about seventy miles north-west from Ca borca, and the same distance from the town of Guadalupe or Altar. The placers were first worked, they beiug very abundant in gold, which lay in grains on the surface, as at San Francisco and Cieneguilla, Afterwards many mines were opened to the depth of ten or fifteen varas, (about 33 inches to each vara) some of which yielded from four to eight ounces of gold to the bowl (or " batea "); others not more than a few cents. Occasionally pockets were found of large extent that yielded marvelously. Nuggets of large size were also found ; one weighed twenty-one marcs, (each marc weighing 4,608 grains). A large piece of gold-bearing quartz was extracted from a ledge, that was nearly all gold, and weighed over thirty marcs. San Antonio, another placer, about ten miles west of Quitovac, was discovered a few days after the latter, and was exceedingly rich at the surface. The discovery of these placers was owing to Father Faustino Gonzalez, who prevailed upon the Papajo Indians to reveal their locality, in 1835. Gonzalez made a large fortune,-and he was soon surrounded by whites and Indians in great numbers. The placer continued rich for several years, and was worked until 1841, when the Papajos rose, and expelled the whites. After quiet was restored, a few persons returned to Qui tovac and worked some mines discovered after the placers, in the ueighborhood of an abundant spring, capable of sup plying a population of 30,000 or 40,000 inhabitants. 76 Iu the Sonoica Valley, which is situated about 36 miles north of Quitovac, on the road to Lower California, the gold discovered was very fine and light. Alamo Muerto, about 48 miles west of Caborca, contains gold and silver mines and placers. It was discovered in the same year as Quitovac, aud although its ores yield a fair proportion of silver, the scarcity of quicksilver prevented their being worked to any great extent. There were, how ever, ten mines in operation at the time of the rising of the Papajos, all of which were abandoned. Las Palomas, six miles to the south of Alamo Muerto, were rich placers of gold, similar to those of Quitovaca. It was also abandoned for the same reason, and is now frequent ed by a few gambucinos, (poor miners) who are satisfied with enough to provide them with food. El Zone was discovered in 1844, and contains uumerous gold mines, some of them quite rich at the surface. From one of them was taken a mass of quartz of 25 pounds weight, yielding 50 per cent, of pure gold. A miue is lo cated here called Ris Sueua; eight or ten shafts are down about 300 feet. Ores are shipped to Aribaca, about 120 miles on the road to Tucson; pays about $200 per ton. Cajitos is situated about 24 miles north-west from Caborca, and about 70 miles from port La Libertad, inland, north-east from the Gulf of California. The mines located here are in a low range of mountains or foot-hills. The mines were discovered shortly after the other mines in the vicinity, and have been worked in a superficial manner since 1842. Li 1868, the hostile Indians drove the miners off, and the mines were abandoned until 1877, when small bodies of armed men returned aud worked iu the old drifts and inclines for a few weeks, then packed the ore on their mules, and slipped away quietly to Basura, about ten miles east, where reduction works were established. The richest spots were thus only mined until 1879, when the mines were again worked by the primitive arastra. The shafts are sunk on an incline following the course of the ore vein. Instead of using the windlass, the ore is packed on the back3 of miners in raw-hide sacks, up ladders made by binding cleats of wood upon an upright pole, with raw-hide thongs. The ore is worked by an iron bar called "barreton," about six feet iu length, which is used to throw it down, using it as a hand-drill and lever. One end is shaped like a drill, and the other is hammered flat and sharp like the larger end of a pick. The ore is broken into small pieces and thus trans- 77 ported to the surface, to the arastras. For shovels, the horns of cattle are steeped in water and flattened out, and attached to pieces of wood with raw-hide thongs. In this manner, these mines have been worked for the last 35 years, and about four millions have been extracted from the four mines in the vicinity. The present depth of the shafts is as follows : The Tajilos, 275 feet; Puerte- citos, from 90 to 100 feet; Galilea, 80 to 90 feet; Oro Blan co, 180 feet; Santa Rosalia, 200 feet; with two levels and stations. " The gold has only been extracted, although a large per centage of silver is found in the ore, which has been al lowed to waste, owing to the lack of materials to save it. Mr. C. E. Hoffman, mining engiueer of this city, although his residence is in Sau Jose, some months since was sent to Tucson to examine some mines in Arizona, and while there, met a Mexican, who showed him some of the ore from these mines, which, on being assayed, was found to be very rich. He accompanied the Mexican to the mines, was sat isfied with their richness, and purchased the four mines, and thirteen others in the vicinity in the Juarez and Cajitos mining district, for himself and some gentlemen in this city, who subsequently organized the Caborca Mining Co. He re turned again last April, and has been superintending their development, building reservoirs, and preparing a site for a 20-stamp mill. The water is abundant in the vicinity, which is caught in reservoirs, and the one now constructed has sufficient water to supply a 20-stamp mill for eighteen months. " In this district the rancheros irrigate their lands by reser voirs; though grain, if sown in season, and grass, thrive very well without. Mr. Hoffman has in his employ about sixty Yaquis. These Indians perform almost all the labor of Sonora, and are employed at from 50 cents to $1 per day. The ores of these mines assayed on an average $80 per ton. The ores of the Oro Blanco mine in this group, assayed as high as $224.94 — about two-thirds being silver. The Santa Rosalia, about four miles from the Oro Blanco, west, went about $151; and the Alberca, $85.75, gold and silver, of about equal proportions. Thus we see the whole of this region surrounding Caborca is one of the richest in the state, and may be worked with enormous results. The price of transportation will not exceed $25 per ton to Port la Liber tad, and may there be shipped to San Francisco for $8 per ton additional ; although Mr. Hoflman proposes to work the 78 ore by a 20-stamp mill, until the mines are further devel oped; then add to their capacity 40 stamps more. Hay can be purchased at the mines at $16 per ton, and wood at $2.50 and $3.00 per cord. The hill-sides in the vicinity are thickly covered with a heavy growth of iron-wood, mesquite, and palo-verde. The location is such that the mines can be profitably worked, aud yield rich returns to the owners. The Santa Felicita mine, twenty miles east of the Cajitos Mining Camp, is owned by Mr. Davis of Chicago, who has erected a 20-stamp mill, and is working in free gold ore. The Cajon mine, twenty miles south-west, is worked by a 10- stamp mill." (From report of Mr. C. E. Hoffman.) We are indebted to Mr. Benjamin Rountree for the fol lowing: " The principal mine of the mining district of La Bar ranca, in the jurisdiction of Sau Javier, is the Tarumari, a silver mine, which is owned by the Barranca Mill and Mining Company, of Guaymas. The' owners are, N. Graff, F. R. Rountree, F. Ench, and Arturo Culicuro. This mine has reached a depth of 300 feet, and has produced bullion to the amount of $1,500,000. The width of the vein is from two and a half to four feet. The average assay has been, for all the working ores, about $100 per ton. The lowest workings are upon richer ore, reaching $160 per ton, with a vein at the lowest workings, 18 inches. The ore contains about five per ceut. gold in bullion. A 20-stamp mill, concentrator, etc., are located at the mines. The ores are worked by the lixiviate process, or roasting, aud then passed through a wet crusher. The ores are rebellious, and, consequently, have to be roasted before treating. This mine is located about 120 miles north-east from Guaymas, and about 100 east from Hermosillo, 10 from Los Bronces, 8 from San Javier." The same company owns the extensive coal beds hereafter men tioned, which are located 1,500 feet from this mine. The region or mining district of Bolas de la Plata is sup posed to be located in the northern part of Sonora, near the boundary line of Arizona. Its importance is chiefly derived from traditions of virgin silver having been found " at the place called Arizona, on a mountain ridge about half a league in extent. The discovery was made by a Yaqui In dian, who revealed it to a trader, and the latter made it public. At a depth of a few varas, masses of pure silver werefound, of a globular form, aud of one and two arrobas in weight. Several pieces were taken out weighing upwards of 20 arrobas, or 500 pounds ; and one found by a person 79 from Guadalajara weighed 140 arrobas, or ,3,500 pounds," all of which has been quoted and given as a probable fact in many works, and is found referred to as a tradition in many Spanish and English works, and even quoted as a fact; since in the same year of the discovery, 1769, the Presidio of Altar seized upon large masses of silver in the possession of certain persons as the property of the crown, which was denied by the parties interested, and the matter taken into the audience chamber of Guadalajara, and from thence was referred to the court of Madrid. Seven years having elapsed, the crown decided that the silver pertained to the royal patrimony. The farts and all the data, in our opinion, can amount to no more, than that certain rumors were in ex istence, in relation to the products of one of the rich mines of Sonora, which had been seized by an officer of the crown: and had been found in a melted state in the mountains, at some mythical spot. The fact that the silver was in the shape of balls indicates that they were simply the ordinary products of one of the rich mines, and had been melted into the balls before mentioned, from the fact that formerly the silver in Mexico was thus melted, instead of into bars or bricks, as at present. The following is copied from the Appendix of " Ward on Mexico," which contains a complete report of the dis trict of Babiacora : '" In the neighborhood of Babiacora there are many silver mines, the most of which contain a greater or less propor tion of gold. The principal are Dolores and San Antonio to the aouth-we=t of the town; Cerro Gordo, to the south east, and Cobriza, on the Cerro de San Felipe, in the valley above Babiacora. " The Cerro Gordo mine is situated four leagues south east of Babiacora, on a very high hill, and appears to have been of considerable interest, from the great quantities of refuse ores thrown out on its sides. The quantity of water contained in it cannot be ascertained, as there is not any perpendicular shaft. From the steepness of the hill, a tun nel might be driven far below the bottom of the works, from a fin j plain. The vein is about one-half yard in width. Some of the rejected ores produce from 12 to 30 marcs per 'monton,' (often cargas, or 3,000 lbs.) "The mine of Cobriza de San.Felipe, eight leagues north of Babiacora, and three from the town of Ituapaca, with the- haciendas and rauchos of San Felipe, Agua Caliente, and Los Chinos, in its neighborhood, is said to have been aban- 80 doned when producing pure silver, which the miners cut out in small pieces by means of large shears aud chisels. The Apaches drove the miners away, and, during their absence, the shafts became filled with water, and a large rock fell into the mouth, blocking it completely up." This was in 1827. The mine of Tacapuchi is three leagues from Babiacora south-east. The ores produce 14 marcs per monton, or about $44.80 per 3,000 lbs. Dolores, one league from Babiacora, produces silver in the same proportion, with a mixture of gold. These mines are all advantageously situated, with wood and water in abundance adjacent, and are distant about 70 leagues from Guaymas. About eight leagues from Oposura north-west, are the old and celebrated mines of Sad Juan Bautista. The Mineral of San Juan is a mountain of itself, encircled by others to the north-west and south of considerably greater elevation. It is 3,000 yards in length from east to west, and 1,500 wide at the broadest point, and is entirely sur rounded by a ravine which opens into a large plain. The mountain or hill is 600 feet high, at the summit of which the principal vein, called Santa Ana, crosses from north to south. This is crossed by another vein on the northern slope of the mountain, and is called El Rosario. These. mines have produced enormously, but now contain much water. Twelve other distinct veins are found, with small threads of virgin silver permeating the centre. The azogues, (ores that contain quicksilver) which are very abundant, are un touched, though they produce from 24 to 96 ounces of pure silver to the carga of 300 lbs. or from $140 to $650 per ton. The ores, by smelting, have yielded 50 per cent, of pure silver. Tradition says that when they were compelled to abandon Santa Ana from water coming in, they left off in a vein of pure silver one-third of a yard wide. The- twelve veins vary from one yard to six in breadth. The depth to which they were worked is as follows: Santa Ana, 140 varas; Rosario, 60; Cata de la Agua, 5; Guada lupe, 4; Gazapa, 20; • Texedora, 20; Santa Catarina, 20; Arpa, 12; Prieta, 12; Bellotita, Coronilla, 12; Fontane, 10. Half a league further to the north of Santa Aua is the mine of Descubridora, with a vein of azoguee, (heavily charged with quicksilver) 15 varas wide; depth of mine, 30 feet; 81 assay, 96 ounces to the carga of 300 lbs, or about $650 per ton, reduced by the amalgamating process. One league to the westward is the mine called Bronzosa, or Los Bronces, with an immense vein, which may be traced one mile on the surface. It has been considerably worked, but has water in it. Two leagues further west is the mine called Cobriza, a new mine 20 varas deep. The two last have a good reputation. The mining district of Nacosari is located 16 leagues from Oposura, and 14 eastward from Arispe. The entrance from the plain of Nacosari is up a narrow glen two leagues in length, through which flows a tolerable stream of water, which is lost in the sand. About one mile from the entrance, during the rainy sea son, it reaches to Ojo de la Agua, the source of the Opo sura River. Just before you arrive at Nacosari, the glen ex pands into a beautiful vale, planted over with a variety of ornamental shrubs, fig trees, pomegranates, peaches, and other fruits and plants, which were once arranged with order and taste, but now form a confused thicket. The re mains of numerous canals are visible, through which water was conveyed to every part of the vale. This spot was once a residence of Jesuits. The remains of their dwellings and an old church at the upper end of the valley are yet to be seen. . The surroundings are picturesque. The mountains on each side rise almost perpendicularly, and are intersected with strata of a great variety of colors. Some of them pre sent a mixture of bright red, yellow, green, and other varied tints. There are many excavations in the mountains, and the principal mine is called San Pedro de Nacosari. This mine is a phenomenon. The vein runs east and west, and is laid open from the surface for more than 1,000 varas, to the depth of 70 varas. The breadth of the aperture is about two yards; but on each side are immense quantities of rub bish thrown out. Much dirt and sand have washed in and covered the vein; but general report says that the mine has no water in the interior, and that the ores were so rich that the best yielded from 25 to 30 marcs of silver to the arroba (of 25 lbs.). The mines of Churunibabi, Pinal, Huacal, Aguaje, and mauy others, are situated to the north and north-east of Na cosari, at no great distance from San Juan del Rio, built upon a stream which falls into the Yaqui. These minerals are equally rich with those already described. Pinal con- 6 82 tains a greater proportion of gold than silver. It is recorded in the archives of Arispe, that the former owner, a lady bj name, loaned quite a sum to the government. Churunibabi is a very old mine, worked in the same way as the San Pe dro, as, indeed, are all the mines in this part of the country. The direction of the vein is east aud west, width two varas. The last persons who undertook to work this mine, were named Escalante, Vasquez, and Coulla. They cleared away the rubbish at one end until they found a pillar left to Sup- port some of the old workings, from which they took ores that produced $70,000, and yielded 70 marcs of silver per carga of 300 lbs. The mine is laid open from the surface 400 yards in depth. Tradition says that the first discoverers found the vein of virgin silver one-half vara wide, (or about 16 inches) and that it was abandoned, on account of the Apaches, when the vein was two varas or 66 inches wide, (5i feet) and the ores assaying 70 marcs per carga, or about $1,500 per ton. The richness of these ores appears almost incredible; but when we consider the great quantities of bars of silver the mines of Sonora, without the aid of quick silver, have produced, the metals must have been very rich and abundant. Ten leagues to the west aud south-west of Nacosari, and six to the north of San Juan, are the mines of Tonbarachi and San Pedro Virguillia, with ores of from six to eight marcs per carga. To the west of Arispe are the mines of Santa Teresa, of gold and silver completely virgin, and the Cerro or Mountain of San Pedro, which contains innumerable mines and veins untouched. In all the districts above described, the roads are only passable from the public roads for horses and mules. The country being very mount ainous, but not of very great elevation, none of these mines are more than six or seveu leagues from rapid streams of water, sufficiently considerable to work almost any machin ery. The mines of Aigame, or Hay game, near Horcositas, are famous for the abundance and richness of their gold- bearing ores. Those of Lam Pozas and Palos Blancos, five leagues west of Tepachi, are likewise good mines, with con siderable veins carrying rich ores." On the Mining Districts of La. Carita, La Iglesia, La Chipiona, La Amargosa and Los Mulatos. All these districts comprise another seven hundred square miles of a very, mountainous country, situated around the the head waters of the Rio de Guisamopa and those 83 of the creek of Agna Verde, another tributary of the Sa huaripa river; as well as on the Rio de Mulatos, which is the most southern branch of the head waters of the Rio Yaqui, but already a powerful stream, where it rushes past the mining town of Mulatos Some of these mountain ranges reach heights" of 6000 and 7000 feet above the level of the sea. The whole seven hundred square miles are covered with most magnificent forest of pine, oak and a great variety ot other trees. Water is in this extensive region by far more abundant than ou the western slope of the Sierra Madre. Every now and then one meets a fine stream of crystal water, leaping from rock to rock, as if anxious to become of some use before leaving its birthplace. Grass is also more abund ant and much sweeter than in the west, and provisions are full as near as to Trinidad and Guadalupe. But Guaymas is, by fifteen leagues, farther off from these latter districts. As in respects to the proposed Pacific Railroad, the seven hundred miles I here speak of are much easier reached than the seven hundred miles on the western slope of the Sierra, since said railroad would run close along the southern line thereof. The veins found in these districts are even more nu merous than those in the more western ones; also more regu lar and extensive. But the ores, as taken on an average, are less rich and of a more complicated nature in respect to their metallurgical treatment. This is the principal reason why less mining has been carried on here than in the western districts. But the mines I am going to describe are, there fore, of less importance, since they seem to make up in quantity what they fall short in quality, at least as far as veins are concerned. The district of "La Carita," the most west ern of the group, is situated on the eastern side of the Sierra de San Ignacio, which is in that section of the Sierra Madre, the northern termini of its most western ridge. The princi pal part of this district is a bulky mountain, about five miles long and 5000 feet high. Its cap of porphyry is more than 1000 feet thick, but does not prevent the green stone por phyry, with its intermixture of iron pyrites as the precursor of the ores, from cropping out in a great number of gulches and ravines, from most of which the interior of the mountain could easily aud cheaply be reached. With half a dozen of tunnels, hundreds of thousands of tons of valuable ores would become accessible, and make this mountain one of the most famous of the Sierra Madre. That it is an ore-bearing mountain is, in addition to what I have already said about it, proved by the astonishing number of veins cropping out in 84 the cap of porphyry. Only a few of them have been worked, since their existence was but recently discovered. The ore on the surface of these veins is greatly decomposed, and is, therefore, very soft. It enters freely into the Mexican amal gamation process. But after a certain depth has been reached, from twenty to forty yards, the sulphuret of the ore makes its appearance. This, without being roasted, does not enter into the amalgamation. All the worked veins have on this account been abandoned, although the ores had be come more abundant than they had been near the surface. The chemical character or compounds of the ore of the La Carita district I could not determine without putting it to an analytical test. In appearance it differs from all other ores in the Sierra Madre. In many of the mines of La Carita gold is found on the surface, and in quantities large enough to be worked for. Being the nearest mining district to the Rio de Sahuaripa, La Carita has all the mining facilities on hand, that is, as far as the country produces them. The small min ing village of the same name is situated at the foot of the mountain, and close to the little streamlet which comes out of it. In the east the district of La Carita is joined by that of La Iglesia. About a century ago La Iglesia was a large mining village, but at the present it is but a small rancho, with but half a dozen families. As a mining district, La Ig lesia calls the attention of the geologist as well as the miner. Its most important geological, or rather mineralogical, feature is, that wherever a vein has been worked, the ores on the surface were rich in silver, but soon changed into the metals, pyrites, with the extraction of which the Mexican miner never troubles himself. The succession of the ore strata is here, as far as it has been tried, the same as in Dios Padre, in Trinidad. Pure galena comes first, then galena and zinc blonde, after this galena, zinc blende, and small pockets of gray silver ore. Now, judging by what follows this in Dios Padre, I have a right to infer that the same ore will follow here too, viz.: a rich gray silver ore, with perhaps a little zinc blende and galena. And if this really is the case, as I do believe it is, then immense quantities of pure and rich gray silver ore could be extracted from innumerable veins of the Iglesia dis trict. In the whole district there is not a mountain over 1000 feet high, above the level of the Agua Verde Creek, which divides it into two equal parts. This creek is a pow erful stream, with a good deal of fall, and therefore very well adapted to the driving of machinery and for other purposes. On its banks and on the hills near to it thousands of acres of 85 land could be cultivated. They are now covered with an abundance of grass or a magnificent forest. La Igelsia, as a whole, is one of the cosiest spots of the Sierra Madre, and a place on which at some future day a great mining town must spring up. The scenery all around the district is grand, sublime; one mountain rises higher than the other, and all trying to outshine one another with their dense and splendid forests of pine, oak, etc. The whole dis trict of La Igelsia belongs to the same ore-bearing formation as Trinidad and Guadaloupg. One vein or mine of it I have to describe in particular; it is that of " El Tajo." It is situ ated on an elongated hill, above two hundred feet above the level of the Arroyo del Agua Verde, and but half a mile from its banks. The vein is an extensive one, was from two to three feet wide on the surface, but left iu six feet at a depth of oue hundred and twenty feet, in which the mine was abandoned some twenty-five years ago. Its history was, therefore, easily to be traced, and the condition in which it it was left ascertained. On and near the surface of the vein large quantities of galeua were found, after which, little by little, zinc blende made its appearance, until at the depth of one hundred and twenty feet, nothing but zinc blende, with now and then a small pocket of gray silver ore was found. The vein, 13s stated, was six feet wide, and consisted of pure ore. Granted, now, that little by little the zinc blende will disappear, again to be replaced by rich gray silver ore. What, if such an event takes place, will be the value of this mine? Millions could be extracted from it every year, and incred- ble as this may sound, it is nevertheless probable that such should and would be the result if my theory stands good, which it will, since it is not a mere abstract theory, but one founded on a great number of established facts. The future development of the mine will show whether lam in the right or not. The rock of which the hill is composed is a rather soft one, and a shaft alongside the old works of two hundred feet would go a great way in telling what is to come after the zinc blende. The sinking of such a shaft would not cost over $1000. The mine of Yerba Buena lies opposite that of El Tajo, and on the other side of the Arroyo del Agua Verde. From the surface of its veins rich silver ores were extracted. The saying is that it was abandoned on account of a large stream of water having been struck, but I rather incline to the be lief that the appearance of zinc blende was the principal cause thereof. , 86 A number of other veins have been superficially worked, but their history is more or less the same as that of El Tajo mine. All the mining facilities are here plentiful, and even the agricultural products could be raised alongside of the mines. I come now to one of the largest, most interesting, and most important mining districts in the Sierra Madre; I mean that of " La Chipiona." Unlike La Iglesia, it is formed by groups of mountains, from 4000 to 6000 feet above the level of the sea, but, through its peculiar topography, never theless accessible from all sides. Nay, the very height of the mountaiusand their size will contribute toward their de velopment, in a mining sense of the word. In this district, as a rule, all the mouutains are covered or capped by a thick stratum of porphyry. But in all the innumerable gulches and ravines, the green stone porphyry, with its never-failing iron pyrites, stands out in immense masses, and in one spot over twenty five acres of the very gray silver ore can be traced in a thousand small veins, running through the rock in every direction. The veins cropping out through the sur face of the " caps" cannot be numbered, and are at the same time the most extensive ores in the Sierra Madre. The dis trict of La Chipionajoinsthatof La Iglesia. It belongs, like this, to the ore-bearing formation, and even more so, as the description of some of its mines will show. If I say that more than a hundred mines have been worked here I do not say too much, since within six months, while 1 was residing in La Oienegita (the most inhabited part of the Chipiona mines), I could not visit half of them. Some of the veins I I traced for five or six miles, without coming to their ter minal in any direction. They all run from north to south( or near to it, and their thickness lies between two and ten feet, but it increases as they go down, and, I believe, that in' a depth of five hundred feet it will vary between ten and fifty feet. The ores of all these veins are, with the exception of a few, the same : a poor, gray silver ore, rich gray copper ore, intermixed with iron pyrities, and in some instances also with copper pyrites. To a depth of from twenty to fifty feet these ores were decomposed — changed into a kind of red or yellow ocre. They freely entered into the smeltiug as well as into the amalgamation process; but below that depth the sulphu rets made their appearance. They are, without beino- well reverberated, unbeatable, and consequently of no usef But I doubt very much whether this will be the process by which these ores can be treated to advantage, since lead is scarce and expensive, not only all through the Sierra Madre, but 87 also over the whole of northern Mexico. The appearance of these sulphurets there was the cause why all these mines were abandoned again soon after they had been taken up. I shall describe some of the most important ores as a mere sample of the nature and importance of the Chipiona district. As some of the most interesting ores, I have to point out a number of veins of the same nature as that of El Tajo mine, in the Iglesia distriet. The principal one is La Mina Grande, called so from a vein on which it was founded. On the sur face it contained large masses of galena, which, little by lit tle, changed into zinc blende. When it was abandoned, the vein was from six to eight feet wide. All I have said of the El Tajo mine, in respect of what it might become, may also be applied to this mine, and perhaps more so, since its veins are not only wider, but also more favorably situated as to working to advantage, running along the side of a high mountain, so as to be opened by the driving of a tunnel. Next to the Mina Grande comes that of Ostemuri, an exten sive vein, in which a great deal of work has been carried on. Here, too, zinc blende was the cause of the abandonment. Provided that in either of these three mines, those of El Tajo, La Grande or Ostemuri, the sinking of a shaft or the driving of a tunnel would prove that I am correct in respect to the ores found below the zinc blende, what would these three mines be worth, and what dividends could a company in possession thereof pay ? Millions would stand arrayed against the small risk of $5,000. No further working capital would be required, as each mine, from the day of finding the rich ore, would become at once not only self supporting, but surplus producing. These three mines are so near one another, the greatest distance being but four leagues, that their works could be easily directed trom the some point. I come now to a description of a mountain peculiarly situ ated, of a peculiar shape, and peculiarly interesting. It is that of Cerra Colorado, or La Chipiona proper. I might call it a mountain peninsula, since on three sides it is separated from surrounding mountains by deep gulches. On the south side it is connected therewith by a low isthmus or small plateau. From that isthmus it increases in height until its summit is 1,500 feet above the level of the Arroyo de las Bron- zas washing past its base. The cap of this isolated mountain is about three hundred feet thick, perhaps less. A very ex tensive vein (the principal one) crops out on its summit, and, following the ridge, loses itself in the isthmus, to reap pear on the mountain coming down from the isthmus. Over 88 this second mountain I have followed it for some three miles, without finding its termini. In this vein a considerable amount of work has been carried on, and in some places to no inconsiderable depth. All the ores extracted from it were decomposed ores (originally gray silver ores and iron pyrites). In all parts of the vein the working of it was given up as soon as the sulphurets were reached. Besides this, a hundred mines of the same nature were worked, and for the same cause abandoned. Seven years ago, when I was for the last time in the Chipiona district, but one mine was miserably worked. I now come to the part of the mountain above described, to to which I would call the special attention of the geologist and miner. It is this: the immense base of it — the circum- ferance, which comprises six to eight miles. Around all this base greenstone, porphyry with iron pyrites, stand out and on one side, the eastern, a thousand small veins of gray silver ore run in every direction through the rock, through the same kind of rock and iu the same way as in the Dios Padre mine of La Trinidad. Besides this, the exterior of both mountains (not in shape) of La Chipiona and La Trinidad is the same. Why, then, should we not infer from all this that the exterior of the mountain bears the same relation to its interior as the exterior of the Dios Padre mine to its interior? Geology would cease to be a science, and would be of no use if such inferences, based on so many facts, could not be drawn or would not be accepted. I have so far described four mountains, the heads or interior of which must be considered as bearing ore, and of a similar nature as that of the Dios Padre mine. They all four belong to the same formation, the same period of geological creation, and have the same rocks, ores and appearances in common. The most northern of these four mountains is that of La Chipiona; eight leagues from it lies that of La Huerta de Yulapa; four leagues from this that of Dios Padre, aud seven leagues from that, the mountain of Guadaloupe Sierra de la Hierra, some eighteen leagues from one extreme to the other. Founded on these facts, since facts they may be considered, I ask the question, of what are the hearts or interiors of all the mountains lying between and around the four mountains mentioned and de scribed composed? I boldly answer, of ore, some in a less and some in a higher degree; some with but very little of it, and some with a great deal; some with ore of a poor and others of a richer nature. The calculation of the sum total of the riches they may contain I leave to some mathema- 89 tician who delights in such calculations, as some Americans do in calculating the population the United States will have in 6000 years from now. All the mountains of which the district of La Chipiona is composed, comprising some two hundred and fifty square miles, are covered with the finest forests in the Sierra Madre. Oak and pine abound everywhere, from the depth of the gulch to the highest peak of the mountains. Grass is no less abundant, since the whole two hundred and fifty miles form an almost continuous meadow. Of water, the only stream of any consequence is the Arroyo de las Bronzas, a tributary of the Arroyo de l'Agua Verde. In the dry season it almost dries up, but there are a thou sand places where artificial water reservoirs could be con structed, and filled to the brim in the rainy season, when water falls most abundantly. The projected Pacific Rail road touches this district as well as La Iglesia and La Carita. Agricultural products for the maintenance of a large pop ulation could be raised in the low lands of Sonora, and within the mining districts, where good soil abounds. The distance to Guayamas is seventy leagues. The Indian village of Taharachi lies inside the Chipiona district. In the east of the Chipiona district lies the district of La Cienegita Amargosa. It belongs to the same formation as all the rest of the Sierra Madre districts so far described. In it, too, a great number of veins crop out on the surface, some of them worked. There is one veiu I discovered; it is one hundred feet wide, which has never been touched, and promises to lead into the interior of an ore-bearing mountain of great extent. The surface of all the mountains of the Amargosa Cienegita district is, already stated, gold-bearing (in the description of the Sonora gold mines). The mountain described there as paying $12 per ton of decomposed porphyry and iron pyrites forms the most eastern part of this district. By all I know of the geology and mining of Sonora I am convinced that the interior of this immense mountain is very rich in silver ores, perhaps richer than any of the other ore-bearing mountains heretofore descri bed. The Arroyos of Amargosa and Cienegita have their rise in this district. They are tributaries to the Arroyo del Agua Verde, and small but permanent streamlets, of the best drink ing water, are consequently of much importance in a region 90 where most of the waters are impregnated with dissolved mineral substances. The brook of La Amargosa is the ema nation of a mineral spring (steel water), and as such highly prized by the surrounding population. The forests of Cienegita Amargosa district being very dense and the mountains above the elevation, where grass grows freely, this article is scarce in some parts of the dis trict, but found in great abundance in the remaining parts. Leaving the Cienegita Amargosa district and taking the road for Mulatos one has to pass over the highest ridge in that part of the Sierra Madre. It is, like all other high ridges of the mountain ranges, composed of trachyte. Arrived on the other side, one looks down into a deep valley. It is the bed of the Rio de Mulatos, the southern branch of the Yaqui river, coming almost from the plateau c-f Chihuahua. It is a principal stream, and the day will come when it will be of immense value to mining. On the banks of this stream lies the mining town of Mulatos, with some some 1500 half starved inhabitants, although living on riches uncounted. The gold mines of Mulatos were once, as I have already said, famous, not only through all Sonora, but also all through Mexico. As a silver mining district I cannot say less of it, since all its mountains showing gold near the sur face will change into silver-bearing mountains after certain depths have been reached. There is a vein in the Mulatos district the ores of which produce the white copper hereto fore only found in China. What its components are I am not aware of. Veins bearing silver ores on the very surface have so far not been found. Timber, wood ^and grass are rather scarce in the neighborhood of Mulatos, and all pro visions must be brought from the Sahuaripa valley. The egress and ingress from and to the town are very difficult, and since a direct connection with the future Pacific Railroad is almost imposible, a mountain range 7000 feet in height lying between them, I must say that the district of Mulatos lies under great disadvantage. On the Eastern side of the river lies the mining district of Dolores, said to be rich in silver mines; but since I never saw it myself I pass it, and shall continue to pass all the mining districts of which noth ing of importance is to be said. All that broad piece of country lying between the districts of La Trinidad and Gua- daloupe and the boundary line of Chihuahua belongs to the same ore-bearing formation as all the districts of the Sierra Madre heretofore described. But as nowhere veins of any nature (some gold-bearing 91 veins excepted) crop out on the surface, I shall not consider it a bona fide mining ground, although lying between the great eastern and western miuiug districts, the latter of which I have still to describe. Theoretically speaking, I must look on these hundreds of square miles as ore-bearing, and the future mining will prove that I was entitled to do so. The most interesting and, perhaps, the richest gold mine of Sonora exists in the Sierra Madre, east of the Sahuaripa river, and behind the most western range of these mountains. It lies in the silver mining district of La Cienegita, and on both sides of the little streamlet of La Amagosa, the waters of which are charged with iron (steel water). This streamlet divides a long, wide and high gold bearing mountain into two parts. On the point where it comes out of it, or from between them, these mountains reach about 2000 feet above the level of the little flat in front of them. The rock which contains the gold is a kind of decomposed green stone por phyry and surcharged with oxide of iron (decomposed iron pyrites). Take away a ton of ore from these mountains wherever you maj', and you will find that it pays you from $10 to $12 dollars a ton of 2000 fibs. By describing the geo logical character of this district when coming to the silver mines of Sonora, I shall refer once more to these two moun tains, and tell my readers what their bowels contain. For the present I will add, that what is found on the surface of these two mountains is but an indication of what is sleeping in their interior. On different and exceedingly rich spots large quantities of gold were found, but the bulk of the ore has never been worked. — The foregoing description of the dis tricts of La Carita, La Chipiona, La Armigosa and Los Mu latos are from a report by Prof. Julius, Miller, an engineer and geologist. In the Moctezuma district, the La Providencia, originally called La Palrait'a, mine is situated eighteen miles northeast of Oposura. This mine was discovered in 1803, and was worked by Spaniards up to 1811, by the records. At this date the records were destroyed, and it is uuknown when the mine was last worked. The incline is irregular in the vein; depth, 100 feet; width, 4 feet; assay averages $125 per ton. Some of the surface croppings, we have been told, went as high as $806. The old shafts were abandoned and filled with rubbish; the pillars were extracted by gambucinos, leaving the mine in a ruinous condition. The intention is to sink a new shaft and put up a ten-stamp mill. A trail leads to the 92 mine, but no wagon road. This mine was rediscovered by a Russian geutleman, who brought specimens of the ore to Harshaw, in Arizona and had them assayed, and there met a mining expert from this city, who examined the ore and found it rich, and placed the mine with some gentlemen in this city, who are now making preparations to extensively open it. The San Antonio Mineral, in the Altar district, possesses some good mines. The Descubridora mine is situated in this Mineral, and is owned by the Sigs. Cipriano Ortega and Abe- lardo Ortiz, aud is within the zone of twenty leagues of the frontier boundary upon the Territory of Arizona. The mine is developed by five tunnels. The vein runs north and south, and its width is from one to four feet. The depth reached is 313 metres, with an inclination of .vein of twenty degrees. The metals contained in the ore are gold, silver and lead, and the ley is $16 iu gold and $82 in silver, aud 72 per cent. of lead. The ore is reduced by machinery established in the same Mineral, in which is located the American company, entitled the San Antonio Gold Mining Company. This mill puts in motion two batteries of five stamps each. The labor ers engaged in the workings of this mine vary from twenty to thirty. The mine of Cerro de Oro, or Hill of Gold, is in the Min eral of San Antonio. This mine is owned by Sigs. Cipriano Ortega and Abelardo Ortiz, and is situated within the zone of twenty leagues on the frontier bounding Arizona. The workings consist of two tunnels, the first 41 metres in depth aud the second 45. The metals of this mine assay in gold $25 and $56 in silver, and carry 70 per cent of lead. The ore is reduced by the machinery of San Antonio. The vein of this mine runs east and west, with a width of 2J metres and an inclination of 35 degrees. The mine of Vieja de Oro is owned by Sigs. Cipriano Or tega and Abelardo Ortiz, iu the zone before-mentioned bound ing Arizona. The miuo is developed by one shaft 22 metres in depth. The assay of the mine reaches $40 per ton in gold. The ore is reduced in the mineral above mentioned. The vein of the mine runs east and west, and is 3 feet in width, with an inclination of 50 degrees. The Rebozadero mine is owned by the same parties be fore-mentioned, and is located near the other mines. The mine has been developed by four shafts and one tunnel, and reaches in depth 56 metres. The vein runs southeast and northwest; width from 2 to 5 feet, with inclination of 20 de- 93 grees, and assays $15 per ton, gold. The Cobriza is also owned by the same parties, and is located near the others. The mine has one shaft, 12 metres in depth. The vein runs east and west; width, 1 metre; inclination 35 degrees. The assay is $25 per ton, in gold. The Rosales mine is owned by Sigs. Francisco, Abel and Jose M. del Castillo, and is located adjoining the mines before mentioned, in the San Antonio Mineral. This mine has two shafts and four drifts, which reach the centre of the work ings, about 180 feet. The vein runs from south to north, and its width is from 1 to 4 feet; inclination, 35 degrees. The ores by arrastras produce in gold $30 per ton, and is worked by four barreteros, or miners. The mine of Ruisena is located in the Mineral of Plomosos and in the twenty-league belt, northeast of Altar. The mine is owned by Sr. Don Francisco Lizarraga. The vein courses east and west, and in width reaches 75 centimetres (one metre is 39.37-100 inches, and a centimetre is about .39-100 of an inch). The inclination is 40 degrees. The walls are firm, and the ores carry gold and silver. The workings are new, and consist of one tunnel, reaching the principal vein. The depth attained is 75 metres, and one shaft of 9 metres, and with other workings make in all some 327 metres. The present "labores" are in abundant metal; 25 laborers are employed in the mine. The metals are reduced in the works of the Mineral of Aribaca, in the territory of Arizona, distant from the mine about 30 leagues. The ley of the metal of the third class has assayed $801 per ton. The mine Provideucia is located in the Mineral of Sonoyta, This mine is owned by Sigs. C. Ortega and A. Ortiz, and is located within the 20-league boundary, northwest of Altar. This mine has one shaft and one drift, and the depth reached is 35 metres. The vein runs south and north ; width, 1 me tre; inclination, 35 degrees, and carries in the ores gold, sil ver, copper and lead. The ley is $8 gold, $40 silver, $20 in copper and $52 in lead per ton. The ore is reduced in the beneficio of San Antonio. This mine has ten laborers. The Rosario mine is in the Sonoyta Mineral, and is owned by the same parties last mentioned. This mine has 4 shafts, and depth reached is 50 metres. The vein runs south and < north; width, 2 feet — in some places If varas; inclination, 70 degrees. The ore yields $180 per ton silver and is reduced by arastras. The mine is worked by five laborers. The San Francisco mine is located in the Mineral of the same name. This mine is owned by Don Cipriano Ortega, 94 and is also located within the twenty-league belt. The vein extends north and south; width 1 to three feet; inclination, 55 degrees. The ley is $40 per ton gold. The ore is reduced in Fremont, Arizona, about twelve leagues distant. The mine is worked by four shafts; depth reached 225 feet, and employs 30 men. The San Francisco mine, in the Mineral of Corazon, is owned by Sr. Manuel Escalante and associates,. and is situated about 25 leagues from the American line. The workings consist of shafts and drifts, which have reached 240 feet in depth. The vein runs south and north; width, 2 J metres; inclination, 75 degrees, aud assays $20 gold and $56 in silver per ton. The ore is reduced by arastras, and occupies eight workmen. The Mina Grande is located in the Mineral of Juarez. This mine is owned by Sigs. Modesto Borquez, Benigno V. Garcia and Justo Bon. It is located about 42 leagues from the American line. The vein runs southeast to northwest; width, 3 to 12 feet, inclination, 35 degrees. The ores contain gold and silver, and the ley is $50 in gold and $15 in silver per ton. The arastra is used, and 13 workmen are -employed. The " labores" are new, and consist of shafts and drifts. The depth reached is 370 feet. The Juarez mine is located in the Mineral of the same name. This mine is owned by the Sigs. Jesus Castro and Jose O. Velasco, and is about 42 leagues from the American line. The vein runs southeast to northwest; .width, 3 to 6 feet; inclination 75 degrees. The ley is $30 per ton silver. The workings are new and consist of 2 shafts, depth 170 feet. The ores are reduced by arastras, and eight workmen are employed in the mine. The Sau Felix mine is located in a Mineral of the same name, and is owned by Albert Sturges and brothers, and is within 56 leagues of the American line. The course of the vein is north and south; width, 6 feet; inclination, 15 de grees. The assay runs from $35 to $2000 per ton. The ores are worked at reduction works, called " Las Tahquas," about five leagues from the mine. — [" Perito de Minas del Distrito de Altar."] — From an official report on the mines of Sonora, in , the Altar district. The Quintera mine is owned by a New York company, who purchased it last September from Mexicans. The prin cipal owners are Messrs. McFarland and Morgan, of New York. The mine cost $210,000— $25,000 in cash, one half 95 the balance in six months and remainder in one year. The property is said to be a good one. A 15 stamp mill is now reducing the ore, that has reached as high as $1000 per ton. The Santa Juliana Mining Co. of New York, lately organ ized, have purchased the Santa Juliana and Mina del Padre silver mines. These mines are located in the municipality of Baroyeca, district of Alamos, about 65 miles from the city of Alamos, and 24 miles from the Yaqui river. The Santa Juli ana is an old mine, formerly worked by the Spaniards and lately by the Mexicans. The old works are the Trojas, Dios Padre, San Francisco, S.an Juan, Santa Loreto, San Benito, Santa Rosa, Trousou Nuevo, Milagres, Congojas, San Ignacio, Salsipuedes and many others. The ores are docile and con tain ruby-silver and sub-sulphides.. The old pillars assay from $100 to $107 per ton. The Santa Juliana proper has a gen eral E. 14 degrees N. course, with a dip of 45 degrees N. Its width varies from five to fifteen feet with walls firm and well encased. The gangue is principally quartz. It shows all the phenomena constituting a true vein, as far as explored from the surface to a depth of 700 feet, and in all the lateral works. The Refugio mines are situated 25 miles east of Hermos illo, and about 25 miles from the Sonora railroad, 95 miles from Guaymas, on the Gulf of California. The mines are con nected with Guaymas by the Sonora railroad. These mines were discovered by some prominent merchants of the district about a year ago and were purchased from them by the Refu gio Mining Company of Santa Fe, N.M. The mines are situated on the Las Norias ranch, adjoining the celebrated San Juande Dios mine, abundantly supplied with timber of good quality, and water sufficient for all milling and smelting purposes. The property is about 2700 feet long by 700 feet wide. The vein strikes apparently N. E. and S. W., and dips nearly ver tically, although as no walls have, as yet, been encountered, actual data cannot be given. However, at the point where work has been done, the ore body has been proved to exceed 7 feet in width without meeting with the wall rock, indicating at any rate an enormous body of mineral. The surrounding country rock is composed of limestone and porphyry. The mineral is carbonate of lead, carrying a considerable amount of silver. Numerous assays of the value have been made, varying from 35 to 75 per cent, of lead, and from 40 to 300 ounces of silver, also from $10 to $45 in gold. In the adjoining San Juan de Dios mine there exists an ore body of about 6 feet wide, reaching $1,850 per ton, also 10 feet of solid mineral at the end of the tunnel, none of which has a value of less than 150 ounces of silver. 96 It will thus be seen that the ore is essentially a smelting ore, and one that is perhaps more easily reduced than any the miner has to deal with. All necessary works for smelting the ore are now in course of construction within 1£ miles of the mine. From the reports of W. A. Jones, on the Jesus Maria mines on January 1st, 1881 : — " The mine is situated on one of the tributaries of the Mayo river, 40 miles northeast of Alamos, state of Sonora. The mine has a length of 2600 feet, by 600 feet in width, well defined ledge, and is enclosed between lime stone and porphyry, the latter being the hanging wall. The ore-bearing material has a width of about 100 feet, samples of which assayed according to report from $15-3s^r to $19-^ per ton. Notwithstanding the low grade of the samples, from the nature and the great extent of the body of the ore, it is a prop erty well worthy of development, with every promise of open ing up into a large and valuable mine." " The principal mine of the Plomo Mineral of the Altar dis trict is the Ruisena gold mine and its continuation. This mine is located four miles from the village of El Plomo, and some 45 miles N. W. of Altar. The vein is a fissure with the hanging and foot wall of granite. Width of vein 3 to 3£feet at a depth of 270 feet. The old workings cover an extent of over 3000 feet under ground, with surface workings extending over 5000 feet. The ores carry sulphurets of iron and copper and are refractory, with an average result of about $100 per ton. This mine has been worked for the last fifty years. The re duction works are located about four miles distant at El Plomo, and consist of a ten stamp mill, concentrators, and two water jacket furnaces. The refining works have a capacity of 20 tons per day. This property is worked in connection with a large lead mine called " Abundancia," located near the works, the vein of which averages 4£ feet. The lead ores carry near 50 per cent, lead and 20 oz. silver, and about one oz. in gold. The property is owned by a company incorporated in Chi cago in June, 1882, the majority interests being held by Chi cago capitalists. Mr. J. Sherman Hall is the Secretary of the company.'' — [Report by Mr. D. Tooker, M. E.] About two miles from the Ruisena mine, a very rich pocket of gold was discovered some 20 years ago th^at yielded nearly a quarter of a million of dollars, all taken out in about three weeks. Some further prospecting has been done but this is the principal strike of this region. The "Sonora Chief" mine is located in the Carbonera 97 mountains on the east side of San Miguel river, about 9 miles north of San Miguel, Carbonera Mineral, Ures district. The vein is a contact vein, formation, porphyry hanging wall and lime foot wall, width of vein 7 to 10 feet at a depth of 140 feet. The ores carry carbonate of lead and oxide of iron, and is a free smelting ore, carrying about 40 per cent, lead and from 80 to 100 oz. of silver per ton. The intention of the present operators is to ship the ore over Sonora railway direct to San Francisco, or Benson Reduction works. The Jesus Maria mine is located at a point near Carbo station some seven miles distant, and is a large deposit of car bonate of lead and iron, lying nearly flat, which is developed by several open cuts and shafts, showing ore from 4 to 20 feet in thickness. The ores carry about 30 per cent, lead and 40 oz. of silver per ton. The ore will be shipped to Benson if reasonable rates can be secured. The "Santa Felicita" mine is situated about 24 miles north west from the city of Altar, and about 8 miles north of the town of Caborca, in the Altar mining district. The vein is a true fissure ; width, from 5 to 18 feet, at a depth of 320 feet. The ore is a free-milling gold, carrying $30 to $80 per ton in gold, and from 70 to 80 ounces in silver. The ore body is decomposed quartz, with hanging wall granite, and foot wall porphyry. This property has been worked from 10 to 12 years. The "Santa Felicita Mining and Milling Co.," of Chicago, own and work the property, reducing the ore by a 20 stamp mill. This mine is said to be one of the most valu able in northwestern Sonora. The Bonaflea gold mine is located about three miles east of the Santa Felicita, and has a vein of ore from two to five feet wide, of the same character and about the same value as that of the Santa Felicita. This mine also belongs to the same company. The above-named company are being amply remunerated for their investment. Dr. Davis, of Chicago, the Secretary, from whom we obtained the above data, says the net profits upon the working of the property reaches from $24,000t,to •$30,000 per month, and that the company is so well satisfied with their investment that they refuse to allow its stock to be quoted on the market, or the property to be sold. In speaking of the old mines of Sonora, Francisco Velasco says that the old Spaniards generally confined themselves to the high grade ores, and when they were no longer in abun dance they abandoned the mine, which then became choked or filled with water. "Windlasses or pulleys at that tima 98 were almost unknown; and where the mine could not be kept free of water by buckets, it was abandoned." All of which plainly indicates that old mines, as a rule, had better be very closely examined before any extensive outlay is entered upon; and since the mineral wealth of Sonora is almost unlimited, a good, new mine, with paying ore, or an old mine with present evidence of its richness, is better than abandoned or exhausted mines with a past reputation of almost fabulous wealth. When a mine has produced its millions, generally there is not much paying ore left to warrant an extensive reopening. The Santa Clara Coal Fields of Sonora. " These coalfields are situated in the district of Ures, Jur isdiction of San Javier, and Mineral or mining district of La Barranca, about 100 miles due east from Hermosillo, and about 120 miles north-east from the port of Guaymas, four miles east from the Barranca mine, about 12 miles east of the town of San Javier, aud about three and a half miles west of the Yaqui River. "These coal beds were first denounced by William Lub- bert, Napoleon Graff, .Thomas Mahan, Frank Ench, and An tonio Cubillos, on the 26th day of April, 1872. At the present date the property is owned exclusively byN. Graff, Florence R. Rountree, A. Cubillos, and F. Ench. The title of the above property vests in said parties, and is free from all incumbrances up to Jan. 1st, 1881, when, at that date, the property was bonded to Charles A. McQuesten, of this city. The property is held by the above-named parties as an association. " The property consists of extensive deposits of anthracite coal," with some appearances of being partly bituminous, which indicates that there must be extensive coal beds of both anthracite and bituminous coal. " The coal beds de nounced are contained in one square league of laud. Up to the present date two well-defined veins of coal have been exposed. " The first consists of a vein nine feet six inches thick, that has been developed by explorations and examinations on the side of a mountain. " In some places, the vein is within about from one to four feet from the surface. This vein can be traced for about 1,000 feet horizontally, and about 500 feet above the base of the mountain, and extending toward the summit of the 99 mountain. One extensive tunnel has been run on this vein, following its dip. No explorations have been nude above the point above mentioned; but indications show that this vein has a much larger ai\ a. The incline of the vein is 20 degrees S. S. E., the dip east by north-east. At a dis tance of 22 feet below the point of location of the above- mentioned vein is another vein of about seven feet in thickness. This vein is reached by a shaft on the opposite side of the creek, on the side of the mouutain opposite. On the side of the mountain, several excavations have deter mined the thickness of the vein. At the foot of this mount ain is a canon about 100 yards wide, on the opposite side of which rises a high and rugged mountain. This canon is about six miles long, commencing at the Taramari mine and ending near the Yaqui River. The coal veins are about one-half the distance between these points, or about two and one-half miles from the Yaqui River bottoms. "The bed of this canon can be made into a good wagon road with little work, from the coal veins to the river. Water is found in the canon at a depth of eight feet. In many places in this canon, slate and mauy indications of coal are found. The geological formation of the vicinity and the character of the coal is as follows: The mountain ranges in the immediate vicinity of the coal are very rugged, with steep sides, covered with trees, cactus plants, and other trop ical veg'etation. The average elevation of the range of mountains is about 3,000 feet above the sea level. " The range of mountains is continuous for over 100 miles running north, and about twenty south, of the location of the coal beds. They form the mountains bordering on both sides of the valley of the Yaqui River. Placers of gold that have yielded very richly, are located near the valley of the Yaqui, one man having in a single season extracted $30,000 from this same canon where the coal beds are located. The Yaqui River is about three-and-a-half miles from the present workings of the mine; and the coal mine is very easy of access by a road to be constructed through the canon, up a gentle incline. At present there is no road for wagons. Horses and mules are therefore used to reach the mines. With very little work a wagon-road could be constructed, or even a railroad, direct to the river's bank. For a distance of about ninety miles from the mouth, the Yaqui River is navigable for barges or flat boats; and at this point rocks and rapids impede a further passage, except for small boats, which are carried around the rapids by "carriers," at the 100 mouth of the canon opposite the coal fields. The river at this point is about 200 feet wide aud four feet deep, during the dry season; but during the rainy season a considerable increase in the volume of water takes place. Engineers state that the river can be made navigable for barges from the point opposite the canon before mentioned, to the mouth of the river, a distance, by following the course of the river, of about 120 miles. The Yaqui River lands, for a distance of 100 miles above its mouth, are noted for the richness of the soil, and the large crops, " as before mentioned." "A rail road can easily be built from the mine to the river, and fol lowing near the different windings of the river north, to enter the United States near Tombstone, where a market can be found for a large quantity of coal for milling purposes, and also for smelting furnaces, used to smelt the rich argent iferous and galena ores that abound in that region; and also through northern and middle Sonora, where hundreds of mines containing smelting-ore require a coal suitable for smelting purposes; or south, through the rich valley of the Yaqui River bottom, where millions of acres of the finest laud in the world are awaiting the emigrant to cultivate its soil; and on to the port of Guaymas, where a market can be found for a large amount of coal for steamers that regularly ply from San Francisco aud that port, and for vessels of war of England, United States, and other nations, that regularly touch at Guaymas. ? " From Guaymas, barges can ply between that port and Mazatlan, or Cape St. Lucas, in Lower California, where a depot of coal could readily find a sale in supplying ocean steamers that ply between China, Japan, Australia, Pa- ' nama andjSan Francisco, with a prospect in the near future of supplying coal to the fleets of steamers that will ply through the Isthmus of Panama Canal. Barges could, also take the coal direct from the Yaqui, up the gulf, to the Col orado River, to Yuma; there supplying the steamers on that river, the several railroads that pass over this river, and the mills on and near this river, where steamers now go up a distance of about 200 miles from Yuma. Vessels could also transport this coal direct from the Yaqui to Sau Fran cisco, where a ready demand for anthracite coal will result in large sales, as at present all anthracite coal used in San Francisco comes from Pennsylvania." (Extract from the report of Charles A. McQuesten, of this city, on the Santa Clara coal fields of Sonora.) We might add that the Mexican Congress has lately approved of the concession to 101 Mr. Robert R. Symon for the construction of a railroad from the above coal fields to El Morrito, on the Bay of Guay mas. Thus it will be seen that this coal will soon be on the market.Quicksilver, Graphite, Marble, Copper, Lead, Coal, Iron, Etc. The ores of the mines of Santa Teresa and Santa Ana contain quicksilver, and tradition says that the mineral re gion of Rio Chico also produces this metal. In San Jose' de la Pimas there is a small hill entirely com posed of graphite or black lead. In San Javier is a vein of a dark color on the face of a hill, from which is extracted a compact substance which, when dissolved in water, produces a fine ink, which is sim ilar to India ink, from China. In Oposura, there is a hill composed of excellent marble, of which the altars and churches of Sonora are built. At Ures, there is also another marble quarry. The celebrated hill of "La Campana," in the city of Her mosillo, is composed entirely of marble as white as that of Italy, and it is used, in some instances, to pave the streets. Alabaster and jasper are found also at Oposura and Ures. Copper is found in the mountain range of La Cananea, north of Arispe. Aduana, (an old region of gold mines) Tonuco, 36 miles west of Hermosillo, and Bacuachi and La Cobriza, west of Horcasitas, all contain copper ores. Lead abouuds in Cieneguilla and Arispe, Batuco, San Jose" de Gracia, Aduafia, and Promontorio. Agua Caliente and Alamo Muerto contain lead, although it is found in the greatest quantities at Cieneguilla and Arispe. Coal is found near Los Bronces and La Baranca, be fore mentioned, where a vein of from seven to nine feet is found. Iron is found in abundance in the southern part of Ari zona, in the range of mountains called Madera, and in the northern part of Sonora, and at Mogollou. In the neighborhood of Cucurpe there is a vein of in combustible crystal. SINALOA. CHAPTER I. General Description. From the river Mayo to Alamos, in Sonora, the country is an extension of rolling hills, and from thence down to the coast and the valley of the river Fuerte, bordering Sinaloa. Here the "tierra caliente " plain is encountered that ex tends all the way down the coast, through the whole length of the State of Sinaloa. The town of Fuerte is located on the river Fuerte, about 80 miles from the mouth. The river is navigable for flat-boats up to this point.- An exten sive valley below Alamos extends almost due south, between the mountains on the east and the low range of hills on the west, until it opens into the valley of the Fuerte and the plains located south. The Fuerte River is about 200 miles long, and rises north-east in the Sierra Madre, and flows south-west into the Gulf of California. The next river en countered is the Sinaloa, which rises in the neighborhood of the south-western part of Chihuahua, and flows in a south westerly course, describing a section of a circle through placers of gold situated east of the town of siualoa, about 25 miles. Here the river winds in a curve to the east and again to the west, within a space of about eight miles, then continues its course, passing the town of Sinaloa, situ ated on its banks, and flows south-west into the gulf. A small peninsula completely hides its mouth from the open waters of the gulf. Another peninsula juts out in an oppo site direction, forming a very good harbor for small vessels. The river is about 180 miles in length. The Mocorito Ar royo or creek is next crossed, and another small stream, until the river of Culiacan is reached, which rises in the western part of Durango, near Tamasula, and flows south west into the gulf, the mouth of which is also hidden behind an island, forming a very good roadstead, called the 102 103 Puerto de Altata. The city of Culiacan is located on the banks of this river, opposite the point where the Rio de Hamaya empties into the Culiacan River. This river is about 150 miles long, and on each side of it spurs of the Sierra Madre jut out into the plain within about 30 miles of the coast; the valley of Culiacan being at this point 15 miles wide. The Rio de San Lorenzo is next reached, that flows south-west direct into the gulf. The great mining dis trict of Cosala lies south-east of this river, near its source; the town of Cosala being about 10 miles south from its banks. This river runs through a valley of narrow width, the whole distance, until it reaches the plains beyond. A valley branches from the valley of San Lorenzo up to Cosala, with a gentle incline, when it again commences to slope on the other side down a valley or canon to the Elota River. This river also rises in the western part of Durango, and flows south-west into the gulf. This river is about 110 miles long, and has numerous branches. In the neighbor hood of its branches, in its canons and ravines, and on the slopes of the mountains adjacent, are some of the most cele brated mines of gold and silver iu the state. The Rio de Piastla also rises in Durango, in its western part, near the celebrated mines of San Dimas, and flows south-west, pass ing San Ignacio, and empties into the gulf. The valley of Piastla is also very narrow; but some exceedingly fertile lands are found in its bottoms, as in many other portions of the state. Another small arroyo is reached, and we enter into the thickly-settled region adjacent to the city of Mazatlan. The port of Mazatlan is located on the coast, about half-way be tween the mouth of the arroyo last mentioned and the river of Mazatlan. This river also rises in the canons of Durango, about 20 miles across the border line of the state of Sina loa, and beyond the mines of Ventanas, and flows south-west about 50 miles, and then takes a course almost due south, and empties into the gulf, or rather Pacific Ocean; the mouth of the Gulf of California being now reached. The point where the river discharges itself into the sea is about 16 miles below Mazatlan City. The Rosario River also rises •across the border line of the state, iu Durango, and flows south-west, into the ocean, passing El Rosario, in the neigh borhood of which are located some very rich mines. Above the mouth of this river, and lying in from the coast, is located the lagoon or lake of El Caimanero, which is about 12 miles long, and about 4 miles in width at its widest point. 104 The Rio de las Canas, at the southern border of the State, separating Sinaloa from Jalisco, flows in the same direction as the Rosario River, and empties into the bay or lagoon of Boca de Tecopan, a narrow inlet of the sea which winds into the plain about five miles, and theu spreads north iu a narrow body of water about ten miles, and south about thirty-five miles, into an extensive body of water iu the southern part. It is said it may be made one of the finest harbors in the world, and would contain all the fleets of the globe. With such a harbor as this at Mazatlan the most power ful city of the Pacific Coast would spring up upon its shores. This harbor is located about fifty miles. below Mazatlan. The Tierra Caliente plain, before referred to, is about 300 miles long, and intersected by the rivers and streams before mentioned; and at its widest part is about forty miles- in width, with extensive valleys branching up the banks of the rivers, some of which are 100 miles in length — the valley of the Fuerte being the largest. The foot-hills of the mount ains are covered with timber, such as cedar, and the varie ties of oak. The State of Sinaloa extends over an area of nearly 3,600 square miles, and has a population of about 200,000. The surface of the plains of the coast is low and somewhat sandy, though the soil is very fertile. Its pro ductions are similar to Sonora, though to a less extent. Dye-woods abound on the coast and toward the Sierra Madre, and on the eastern frontier there abound extensive forests of pine and cedar covering the mountain sides adjacent to' the streams. The rivers flowing into the gulf are used to irrigate adjacent land during the dry season. The state is divided into nine districts, viz., Mazatlan, Rosario, Concor dia, Cosala, San Ignacio, Mocorito, Fuerte, Sinaloa, and Culiacan. The state is bounded on the north and north west by Sonora; and north and north-east by Chihuahua; and east by Durango; and south-east by Jalisco; on the south-west by th e mouth of the Gulf of California. The north aud north-eastern portion is very mountainous, while it is more level on the coast, which is drained, as well as the mountains adjacent in the north-east, by the rivers before named. The interior contains mines of considerable extent, some of which are very rich, to which we will give some at-* tention hereafter. The interior valleys are very fertile, espe cially the valley of Piastla, on the Piastla River, and the valley of Rosario, about twenty miles south-east of Mazatlan. There are about 100 towns in the state, and out of the latter, Mazatlan, Culiacan, Cosala, Rosario, Fuerte, and Sinaloa, are 105 the most prominent. The first town reached of any import ance is the town of El Fuerte. The situation of the town is charming, being on the south bank of the Fuerte River. This river is about a quarter of a mile wide, aud passes along the foot of a plateau that is elevated about 90 feet above its bed. There is a fair view both up and down the river, from this plateau. The town of Fuerte has about 1,000 inhabitants, and should be the principal inland town of the State. There is no commerce at Fuerte, from the fact that its advantageous natural position is no protection from the competiti on of Alamos on the north and Mazatlan on the south. The valley in which the town is located is one that might be one of the most fertile in the State and can be easily irrigated from the river, and will raise corn, wheat, sugar-cane, cotton, and the various cereals, but the inhab itants prefer to use this magnificent valley for grazing pur poses, aud raise chiefly stock. The mules raised here have the reputation of being the best in the State. The road from Fuerte is of the same character to Mazatlan, passing through Mocorita and Sinaloa. The principal family at Fuerte are the descendants of A. Ybarra. Ward, in his celebrated work on " Mexico," says of Fuerte: " The situation is not particularly favorable, as, notwith standing the vicinity of the river, the country about the town is unproductive, and the heat in summer intolerable. "The Tierra Caliente of Sinaloa extends from El Fuerte, or rather from Alamos, to the confines of Guadalajara (Jalisco). It is one vast, sandy plain, destitute of vegeta tion, except in the rainy«season, or in spots where the vi cinity of the mountains or the confluence of two large streams insure a constant supply of water. "This is the case at Culiacan, the most ancient and popu lous town in Sinaloa, situated upon a river of the same name, 80 leagues south of El Fuerte. It contains 11,000 inhab itants, and the country about it is well watered and highly productive." Of Cosala, he says: "Cosala, 35 leagues south of Culi acan, is the next town of any note on the road to Jalisco. It derives its importance entirely from its mines, one of which, called Nuestra Seflora de Guadalupe, is very celebrated. Gua dalupe is free from water, and situated at a considerable ele vation above the plain. It contains a vein of gold of consid- 106 erable breadth, aud its produce might be increased to ten times its present amount, etc." From Cosala to the capital or City of Mexico, or the Cen tral States of the Republic, there are two routes, the one by Rosario, the Cauas and Guadalajara, which is impassable during the rainy season, and the other due east from Cosala across the Sierra Madre to Durango. The distance from Alamos to Fuerte is 35 miles. This place was originally a military station, but the military are now removed to Mazatlan. The town of Sinaloa is located on the river of the same name, and has about 1,500 to 2,000 inhabitants. ' The prin cipal business of this place is in the production of Indian corn, pork, and lard, which is exported. The principal busi ness men are Francisco T. Penna and N. Nufiez, who are in both the wholesale and retail trade, and H. Carubbio. The town of Sinaloa is located on a small river, and iu the winter or dry season it dwindles to a very small stream. The seasons are reversed in the State. They have their dry season while we have our wet, and the reverse. The district around is fertile, and produces the usual agricultural pro ductions, though the principal trade is as we have stated. The town has but one street. The ladies of this town are celebrated for their beauty in the whole State, as those of Hermosillo are famous in Sonora. Roads of the State. A stage runs from Guaymas to Alamos over the old road, which runs east back of the bay, or north of the inlet form ed by the mouth of the Yaqui River, crossing the small stream of San Jos6, and the river. Matape which flows into the gulf; thence to Toriu on the banks of the Yaqui River, a distance of about 80 miles. The river is here crossed by a ferry in wet seasons, and forded in dry seasons, to Bocam, and thence north, following the course of the Yaqui, to Co- cori, about 20 miles; thence to El Baihoca and south to Co- raque, due east of Bocam, and distant in a straight line only about 15 miles. This short cut can be taken and save about 35 miles of useless travel. From Coraque the road runs south-east to Camoa on the opposite side of the Mayo River, which is here crossed at a distauce of about 35 miles from Coraque; thence to Alamos, about 12 miles. From Alamos to El Fuerte the distance is about 35 miles, where the Fuerte River is crossed; thence almost due south to Sinaloa, 107 about 60 miles; thence across the Sinaloa River and on to the Mocorito River and the small town of Mocorito; thence south-east through Palmas to La Morita; and thence taking a more southerly course to Culiacan across the Culiacan River, distant from Sinaloa about 85 or 90 miles. Here two routes are presented to Mazatlan, one by way of Cosala, which takes a south-east course through the small towns and ranchos of Las Arayanes, Las Flechas, El Vichi, Las Milpas, Santa Anita, and Casa Blanca on the small stream of San Lorenzo; thence crossing the stream east to Las Vegas, Carriscal, Higuiera, and Cosala, a distance of about 60 miles; thence south, pass ing Calafauta, Conitaca, Salado, crossing a small branch of the Elota River; thence to Lagunaaud Elota, about 40 miles from Cosala. The other route from Culiacan runs south to Aguarita and El Carriscal, El Salado, and Sau Lorenzo on the river of that name. The river is here crossed and a south east course taken to Avaya, Vinapa, Higuerita, and thence east to Elota on the Elota River. The former route is the most traveled, though longer, as it passes through the rich mining region of Cosala. The latter route is over a stretch of about 80 miles, while the former is about 100 miles. From Elota the road is direct to Mazatlan, distant about 55 miles south-east, crossing the Elota River, and Piastla River at Piastla; thence to Coyotitan, Quebrachi, Quelite, Coma- cho, Aval, Los Otates, and Mazatlan. From Mazatlan a road runs south-east to the Presidio of Mazatlan, and east to El Rosario on the Rosario River; thence south-east into the state of Jalisco to Guadalajara and on to the capital of Mex ico. The road from Fuerte to Mazatlan and Rosario is a good one, to which we have referred already, and is used for wag ons and a stage line constantly during the dry season, but it is impassable during the wet season on account of the lack of the bridges over rivers that are swollen to a dangerous depth and swiftness, and the roads being- of clay and sand become boggy. Another road, or rather mule trail, leads from Mazatlan through San Sebastian east and then north, passing mauy ranchos on the Mazatlan River, to Morito and east, where the river Mazatlan is crossed twice on account of a bend in the river, and on up the Mazatlan Valley into Du rango; passing Favor in Sinaloa and Saulito in Durango, and other towns up the canon to the mines of San Autonio de las Ventanas, and the celebrated mines of Guarisamay, and from thence on to Durango, about 150 miles distant from Mazatlan. 108 CHAPTER II. Mazatlan. The coast adjacent to Mazatlan, with its mountain peaks in the background, presents a grand and imposing scenery; and during the rainy season, when the valleys, hills and mountains are covered with verdure, it is one of the most beautiful spots on £he coast. The small sugar-loaf mountains rise frequently, near and in the distance, presenting a variety of scenery to the eye that is very pleasing, and to lovers of scenery, it is delightful. The port of Mazatlan is not capacious, nor surrounded by those safe landmarks characteristic of many of the ports on the Pacific Coast. For fear of the southerly or south-west winds, no vessels can be anchored long in the harbor, as the land is low adjacent, and on the south-west mostly open to the ocean. For this reason, vessels only stop long enough to unload, and proceed on their way. The inner harbor is far from admitting heavy merchant-vessels like the clipper ships arriving in the port of San Francisco. The approach is safe, however, for ocean steamers to approach and retreat when touching at this port. Larger ships anchor under the lee of the island of Creston, which is rather small, but much elevated. In this harbor there are two other islands, called Venado and Pajoros. The dangers to vessels during the stormy season detract much from the commercial position and advantages of Mazatlan; and, for that reason, Guaymas, in Sonora, will be the principal port for the vessels passing up the Gulf of California. The city of Mazatlan is nearly surrounded by water, a mere tongue connecting it to the mainland. Near the water's edge, and back half a mile, the surface of the site is even, and also to the limits of the city, from the fort on the west, for more than a mile eastward; yet, farther back, it is uneven and ungraded. The fort commanding the inner har bor to the city is located on the side of an elevated plateau, near 1,500 feet above the sea. On its summit, one may en joy the beautiful scenery spread out before him — a pano rama of mountains, low undulating hills, and valleys. In this fort are planted some antiquated cannon, commanding the city and harbor. The streets are not laid out regularly. One main street runs from the water front out into the country beyond, on which are located both retail and whole sale business houses. Some are also situated on the streets of 109 the water front. The whole number of shops and stores reach as many as 500. The buildings are mostly constructed of soft brick, one foot square, and, in some instances, there are stone buildings. Adobe houses are mostly occupied by the poorer classes in the suburbs. Most of the buildings are one-story; yet, in some few instances, the houses built by foreigners are two stories high. The houses are con structed roughly, and plastered inside and out, and after wards penciled. The roofs and floors are made of brick. For the floor, the ground is raised, and surface leveled, and bricks laid in cement, which makes the floors both durable and cool in the summer. When the floors are carpeted, wool or common cotton is laid down first, then the carpet. Among the poorer classes, no carpet is used, but a native mat. Heavy joists and close together are laid across the walls of the building for the roof, and on these a tight floor of boards is laid, and on this the bricks are laid, one foot in thickness, cemented completely water-tight. The walls are commonly three feet thick, making each house a complete fortress, and, withal, very cool in the summer season. The style of architecture is a mixture of the Moorish and Gothic. The doors are clumsy and large, generally fast ened inside by wooden bars. The windows have mostly iron gratings of three quarters of an inch in diameter, and sometimes shutters, making the city look like a city of pris ons. The inside walls are frequently papered, and the houses well and even elegantly furnished. Most of the goods sold here are imported directly from Europe, and German houses seem rather to take the lead in • commercial pursuits throughout the country. There are about 100 foreigners in the city, mostly engaged in com mercial pursuits, and they are said to own most of the real estate in the city. Gold, silver, and copper, and dye-woods are shipped from this point in large quantities. Many ship-loads are packed in from the interior on the backs of mules. "Burros," or she-asses, are used, to some extent, to pack mortar, bricks, lumber, etc.; but freight wagons and carts are also used, drawn by mules. The streets are mostly paved with round cobble-stones, and in a concave form, so that the water drains off in the center. These stones are laid in cement, and become quite firm, so that they are not easily misplaced, except during the rainy season. The sidewalks are narrow, some made of hewn timbers, and laid so that two persons can walk side by 110 side. Others are constructed of soft burnt bricks and flag stone. On any of them, but two persons can walk side by side. The government buildings, such as the custom houses, forts, and arsenals, are well constructed, airy, and remarka bly adapted to the torrid zone. These, as well as private buildings, have a species of rain spouts, which, in the rainy season, scarcely extend -the dripping waters from the side walks. There is one church in JSlazatlan. The composite architecture of beautiful constructions of arches and pillars give some of the buildings quite an imposing appearance. There are two principal hotels, kept by Frenchmen, who charge about $2.00 per day. Inside the court-yards, flower ing shrubs, rare bushes, the hyacinth, and the trailing vine are frequently seen. The delicate and refined taste of the ladies of Mazatlan is well known in the republic, and their beauty rivals the maids of Hermosillo. A public plaza is tastefully laid out, with seats on the sides of the square, made of brick, having brick sides, aud painted red, with brick walks through the center, coinciding with either point of the compass, and with a circular brick walk inside the seats around the whole circuit of the plaza; and to enhance the beauty of this, every 15 feet orange trees are set on the inside edge of this circular walk, which truly adds beauty to the whole scene. A beautiful fountain of crystal water plays day and night. The marketing is done principally on Sunday morning on the market square, where purchases are made from the country people for the week. Indian corn, beans, Irish po tatoes, sweet potatoes, eggs, red peppers, bananas, plantains, oranges, limes, several species of custard apples, squashes, pumpkins, watermelons, muskmelons, chickens, turkeys, aud a variety of gallinaceous birds, such as the "hoco" or "curassow" and pheasants; also, crockery ware, chairs, and other articles are not unfrequently exhibited for sale. After the sales are ended, to the inhabitants of the city, the bal ance are bought by local hucksters at a reduced price. A theater is in the city, where the beauty and ttite gather to listen to Spanish plays of love and tragedy. Mazatlan is now a commanding commercial city of rapid ly growing importance to Lower California, southern So nora, Chihuahua, Durango, and northern Jalisco, and the state of Sinaloa. Vast regions of agricultural, grazing and mineral lands are adjacent, untouched, that await development by foreign Ill capital and industry. Most of the trade of all this region passes through Mazatlan. This city has but few equals for its surrounding advantages, and invites to her municipal confines an intelligent class of immigrants, who will develop her latent energies and re sources. Sailing-vessels go leisurely up the gulf, carrying the pro ductions of the south, though the greater part of the carry ing is now dope by steamers. The principal freight is su gar, coffee, rice and tobacco, with foreign and domestic mer chandise. These are exchanged for flour, fruits, gold and silver, copper, pearls, salt, hides, and tallow. Pome consid erable sugar, cotton, rice, corn, beans, etc., and tropical fruits are produced in the rear of Mazatlan, in the Mazatlan Valley, which is 45 miles wide in its widest part, nearly one hundred miles in length, and well watered by the Mazatlan River. Land can be cultivated three miles on each side of the river, on the river bottom lands. There are about 17,000 inhabitants in the town. The river, which empties into the sea, is 100 yards wide in rainy seasons, aud is navigable for large barges, for five months, some distance up the river. The stage crosses in barges. The country east of Mazatlan is mostly level to the base of the mountains, diversified by rolling ground. There is one large cotton factory in the city, which manufactures the cotton raised in the vicinity, into goods that are purchased by the inhabitants of the region surrounding. This is a great cotton country, and timber is plentiful. Coal has been found seventy-five miles from the city with a veiu cropping out three feet in width, something like an thracite. An interior valley, of 30 to 40 miles in width, at the widest point, lies beyond the Sierra Madre, east of the city, 40 miles from the river Mazatlan. Rich mines have been found near Cosala. Grazing is carried on extensively. The city commands the trade and supplies the wants of the country people and the inland towns within two-thirds of a circle from 200 to 1,000 miles in the interior. Rich merchants come in from the country with pack- trains, who have extensive haciendas, gold or silver mines, or who are exclusively engaged in commercial pursuits. The roads, or rather trails, through the mountain districts are not very good ; and the*rivers, in the rainy season, being mostly without bridges, present serious obstacles during that season for travel in the interior. The rainy season commonly in- 112 eludes the months of June, July, August, September, and a part of October; and during most of this time it rains a little neatly every day. Most of the flour used iu Mazatlan, Tepic, and Colima, and the ports of San Bias and Manzanillo, is ex ported from Guaymas, in Sonora. The flour is nearly as white, possessing the same qualities, as California flour. From Mazatlan to the mouth of the Rio Grande, in Texas, near that point it is nearly six hundred miles; and a railroad from this city to the mouth of that river is practicable, and can be made by passing over a distance of l,0v)0 miles. To Loredo, in Tamaulipas, on the Rio Grande, it is not much more; the latter point being the point of connection with an eastern road running from the City of Mexico, almost due north. A better route, however, might pass Guadalajara, and connect with that road south of Loredo. The City of Mazatlan will be unquestionably a powerful rival of San Francisco. On the low land there is not much cultivation on a level with the sea. The hacienda or rancho Tamaulipas of Piastla, on the road to Culiacan, contains about 30,000 acres, and is situated on the Piastla River, about seven miles from the coast, the whole of which can be cultivated, and is easily irrigated from the river. The stream, during the wet season, is navigable as far as the rancho. This rancho is owned by the Laveagas, but is not for sale. There are small ranchos, however, in the vicinity for sale. There aro also very fertile lands near the Rio de Rosario, twenty miles south-east from Mazatlan. On this river, and throughout the country, land is. cheap. Haciendas of one, two, and three leagues in extent, can be purchased for one, two, three and four thousand dollars. Corn sells from 50 cents to $1 per bushel; beans, $9 per carga; oranges and limes $10 per thousand ; sweet potatoes, 6 to 10 cents per lb. ; beef, pork, aud mutton, from 6 to 10 cents per lb. Poultry and eggs are high. Butter is sent here from Guaymas, but it is of a whitish color, and almost tasteless. The cheese is no better. Lower California fur nishes large quantities of this cheese for the market of Ma zatlan. An industrious American might settle in the vicinity of Mazatlan, and following most any pursuit, such as garden ing, keeping a dairy, or even agriculture, he could accumu late a snug fortune, and in a short time retire from business, living in comparative ease and affluence. The principal business houses are: Rogers & Marshall, Juan Cristobal Farber, Edward Coffey, Budwig & Rasch, Isaac V. Coppall, Charpentier, Reynard & Co., Pefia & Co., 113 Bartning Hermanos y Cia, Canuobio Hermanos, Diaz de Leon Hermanos, J. Kelly y Cia, Echegureu y Hijos y Sobri-: nos, James Hermanos, Federico Koerdell y Cia, J. De la Quintana, Jesus Escobar, Joaquin Redo, Haas y Aguiar, Tepia y Ceballos, Gonzales Hermanos, Vicente Ferreira y Cia, Charpentier, Reynaud y Cia, Duhagan y Cia, Melchers Successores, Felton Hermanos, and Juan Somelleria y Cia. The implements used in husbandry are of the most primitive character in some portions of the state. The plow consists of two poles, one six feet long, and the other fifteen feet, fastened together by the means of a mortice and tenon, at an angle of sixty*five degrees. Through, and near the end of the short pole, there is a pin to steady the plow; and on its end there is attached a pointed iron or steel shoe to prevent it from readily wearing out. The yoke has no bows, but is fastened on the heads of the cattle by means of raw-hide thongs, and so is the tongue of the plow to the yoke. With this rude instrument the grouud is merely scratched over about three inches in depth, and yet the soil yields marvelously. The scythe, the cradle or the sickle, even, are unknown in some places, with the hoe, or any other common implement of husbandry. Reapers and threshing machines are not even dreamed of in some iso lated instances ; but they have been introduced in many of the states of the republic. Here is a rare chance for our agricultural implement manufacturers almost at their doors. About one-twelfth of the population of Mazatlan is white, and can trace their origin back to their Spanish ancestors. Many bloudes are seen who are direct descendants of the old ¦Castilians. In this city there are several wealthy merchants, of different nations, who import goods largely from Europe, many of which we have mentioned already. There are also Mexican capitalists who have extensive ranchos and hacien das in the country, even one hundred miles back in the in terior, and pass a part of their time in town. English and German goods seem to be most used, and generally in de mand; also French brandies and wines; but few articles man ufactured in the United States are shipped into any of the Mexican ports on the Pacific, although an extensive trade with New York, Philadelphia, aud Boston is springing up by vessels and is landed at the ports on the eastern coast or Gulf of Mexico. On the completion of the Texas and Pacific 8 114 and other railroads connecting with the east, a large trade will be established with the large eastern cities of the United States. The principal business houses are engaged in both a whole sale and retail trade, dividing their stores into two depart ments. The principal buildings are the custom-house, a new church, municipalidad or city hall, containing court-rooms, etc. ; Cuartel de Artilleria or barracks for the military, a cotton factory, gas works, and the hotels "Iturbide" and "Nacional." Some trade has been carried on with San Francisco; in fact, much more than is suspected by many of our merchants. Two iron foundries are located here that have considerable trade. Rosario. The town has 6,000 inhabitants and takes its name from the Rosario mines in the vicinity. These mines are some of the oldest in the republic, and have produced an immense treasure for the owners. The shafts are now full of water. The Tajo mine by its richness is a great source of wealth to the town. This town is a place of considerable importance, and at one time was the depot of merchandise of Mazatlan. The merchants resorted to it to purchase their stock of goods and dispose of produce. It was the residence of the Com missary General of the state, and others high in official au thority. The streets are narrow but well paved, and the houses built principally of stone. The town is located in a ravine, and much confined. The Rosario River, a small stream, runs below the town and empties into the Pacific a few miles further below. This stream is navigable for canoes from Rosario, by which people frequently go to Ma zatlan, the distance by water being shorter. This town has considerable trade with Durango and some from Guadalajara. The distance to Mazatlan is 20 leagues or 60 miles, the Pre sidio of Mazatlan being a kind of half-way house or posta. The place is simply a large square surrouuded bv merchants' houses. The distance to Mazatlau Presidio "is about 30 miles. In the northern part of the state the road from Ala mos in Sonora runs over a level plain when it leaves the roll ing hills, and requires no repairing, as the soil is made of sandy clay, almost without a pebble, and is perfectly even and smooth. The surface is level and excellent for coaches. The distance from Alamos to Fuerte is about 35 miles. 115 Culiacan. The capital of the state of Sinaloa, Culiacan, is situated on a river of the same name, in the midst of a beautiful and rich agricultural country. The population of the city- is about 10,000; its streets, with a. great plaza, are laid out regularly, and it possesses much inland trade. The archi tecture and buildings are much the same as at Mazatlan. The state government is located here, and during the ses sion of the legislature, it presents a more lively appearance. The distance from Mazatlan is about 155 miles, and the intervening distance between, over the route by Cosala, is rough and mountainous, with but few ranchos on the line of travel. Cotton, sugar-cane, corn, beans, and rice, and vege tables of various kinds, and fruits common to this climate and a low latitude, are grown in great abundance in the vicinity. There are also some mines in the neighborhood. Coffee is also raised in the state, and brings from 30 to 40 cents per pound. The importation of coffee has at times been forbidden, in order to develop this industry in the state. There is a cotton factory in Culiacan, owned by Redo, who resides in the same town, and is one of the principal capitalists. A stage road runs from Alamos, in Sonora, to Mazatlan — a five days' trip — also to Culiacan, as before stated. There is also a mint in Culiacan. The principal business houses are, Redo, Valadez, O. Salmon, Robert R. Symon & Co., and Angel Urrea. Considerable business is trans acted here. The road, after leaving Alamos, which is mountainous, or a rolling region, becomes almost level as it goes south to Fuerte, and passes down the interior about 60 miles from the coast, through the same level country, to Mazat lan. It also passes down a valley in the interior, beyond the mountains east of the former road, to Culiacan, over a very level road. The Presidio of Mazatlan is located on the roadv to Ro sario, and was formerly the principal place of residence for the merchants and custom house officers, who removed to Mazatlan, and left it almost deserted, with the exception of a large cotton factory which is there, owned by Eche- gureu & Co., of Mazatlan; and besides the operatives, the town has but few inhabitants. The ladies of Culiacan are truly celebrated for their fair complexion, graceful forms, and modest demeanor. They 116 are very fond of music and dancing, and play very skillfully on the harp, and are, withal, as intelligent and captivating as any of the famous beauties of the republic. On the road to Culiacan from Fuerte are situated Sinaloa, and Mocorito, and La Muerito. Cosala. The town of Cosala is situated about 60 miles from Culi acan, to the south-east, and nearly 100 miles from Mazatlan. The town extends over nearly as much ground as the latter; but it is more interspersed with flower-gardeus and small orchards. The town is well built; but the streets are some what irregular. The number of inhabitants reaches 5,000. Cosala is a mining district. Within about 20 miles of the town, is located the Guadalupe mine, which is perfectly dry, and at a good elevation from the plain. The mines of Copala, Panucho, San Dimas, and San Igna cio are the principal ones located in the vicinity. The Saragossa mine is situated north-east from Mazatlan and north of Cosala. This mine is celebrated for its beautiful specimens of virgin silver. In this town, a peculiar disease that is attributed to the water used exists, and is called " buche," and is known with us as goitre, or swelled neck. One traveler describes its unfortunate inhabitants as looking like pelicans. From Cosala to foot of mountains, the distance is 15 miles due east. Santa Ana, a small rancho, and some others, are located on the road. There are some six mines near, bearing silver and magistral, and about one and a half miles from the town, the celebrated Golconda gold mine. The principal business of the state is mining, grazing,, and the raising of herds of cattle, horses, mules, sheep, etc., al though the agricultural productions are considerable. The mines of the state produce a large revenue. The Xocihuis- tita mine, situated near Rosario, was bonded for three months at $60,000, and the parties who had bonded it refused to renew the bond. In a short time afterward the owners sold a one-half interest for $500,000 to American capitalists of San Francisco, who are now taking out from $50,000 to $60,000 per month. Some ladies at Mazatlan were the owners. Estacata is another old mine near Cosala that was once extremely rich. Tradition says that its owners were so rich and realized such fortunes from its possession that they used to lay down silver bricks for their ladies to tread 117 upon on their way to church, and then take them up again by their servants — a piece of extravagant gallantry somewhat un heard of, even among the descendants of the Moctezumas. Some of the mines of Mexico are worked in what we would term an extravagant manner. The shafts in some instances are walled with timbers that are placed there for their im perishable qualities, and often the wood selected is of the most valuable character, and being the nearest at hand is used with a prodigal hand. One old mine, we are told by a gen tleman who explored it, to which he gave the name of the old San Jose' mine, was literally lined with ebony. He showed us a piece of this wood which he extracted from the mine, and had made into a rough cane. The timbers were as sound almost as when they were placed in the mine, and were' laid one upon the other along the walls of the shaft, and some 15 to 20 feet in length. The origin of the mine was unknown, and the mouth of the shaft had fallen in, covering it up eutirely until another drift from a mine near it in search of a vein of ore was run until they came to the ebony walls of the shaft of the old mine. It was cleaned out — rubbish, etc., removed — aud found to be very rich. The ebony alone would be worth a small fortune in this country. The haci enda of La Labor, owned by the Laveagas, is situated about four miles from San Ignacio aud contains 40,000 acres, about one-third of which can be cultivated. Sugar-cane, wheat, corn, and other productions have been raised upon its arable lands. It is located on the San Ignacio River, and the soil is very fertile. Mining Districts and Mines of Sinaloa. Rosario District. — The most important mine of this dis trict is the celebrated Tajo mine, which is the second best producing mine in the state, and is located iu a K>lling country on the bank of the Rosario River. The depth reached two years ago was 1,200 feet, when lir. Geo. S. Montgomery, of this city, visited it, and we herewith give his representation of the mines of this district, and some others. This mine produces fair milling ore, with 60 per cent. gold; the balance, silver. The vein is six feet wide, until a bonanza is reached, that widens out the vein to about 100 feet. They were then taking out ore in a bonanza that assayed, on an average, $120 per ton, and ran sometimes in first-class ore up to $1,000. This mine* is owned by Mr. 118 Bradbury, of Oakland, aud Mr. Kelly and other merchants of Mazatlau. This is one of the best equipped mines in the state. One stamp-mill of 30 stamps was working the ore, and since, a 20-stamp mill has been added. The 30-stamp mill was then working 40 tons per day, which, with the 20- stamp mill now, is working about 60 to 70 tons per day. This mine is supporting about 6,000 population. There are other mines iu this district of minor importance. The dis tance to Mazatlan is about 80 miles, in a north-westerly di rection. Plomosas District. — The principal mine is the Plomo- sa, located in this district near the border of Durango, and is owned by a Mazatlan Company, with the controlling in terest in the hands of merchants of that city. The mine is valued at $1,200,000, and is divided into 24 shares^ the usual number in Mexican mines. Mr. La Madrid was the former owner. The depth of the mine is over 800 feet; width of vein, 20 to 25 feet, well defined aud apparently permanent. This mine has paid from the start, although the ore is somewhat rebellious, which could not be worked as easily as within the last year. The ores carried galena and zinc. The average assay was about $80 to $90 per ton, aud is worked by a 20-stamp mill at the mine. This district is about 120 miles south-east from Mazatlan. The Abundancia mine, in Plomosas, is situated in the gap which descends from the rancheria of Plomositas in a pre- cipituous decline towards the northeast. The mountain on which the works are established, as well as the neighboring one of the Potrero Las Escaleras and El Arco, are of strati fied rock, affected by metamorphism, and repose on the dyo- ritic formation in this locality. The aspect of all this zone, from the decline of the ground, from the elevated central table, is of a very favorable geological character for ores. The Abundancia metaliferous lode detaches itself In part from the mountain that incloses it in a compact and elevated cliff, which has been prospected in great part by the ancients. The broad-vein prospect shows a "horizontal breadth of at least ten metres. It is to be noted that where the matrix is found to be more quartzified are seen the best or more abundant ores, and as soon as the limestone aspect appears in small veins it seems that galena follows it, but without the concise relation taking place. I cannot consider the Abundancia lode as being a vein, properly so called, nor as an altogether irregular lode, for there appears a transition between both in its character. 119 The situation of the cliff above the adit is recognizable by the old shafts which communicate with the interior. It can be perceived from the pillars and some of the intervals that the ancients worked through means of a regular alloy, and the extent of these workings indicate the considerable quan tities of ores that they extracted. Up to December 21st, 1881, the mine had yielded 27,054 cargas of different ores, containing, as per mining assay, 332,474 ounces of silver, averaging about 12.15-100 ounces per extracted carga. Of these, 554, averaging 65 ounces alloy, which has been ex ported, corresponding to two per cent, of the total in weight, and 10.08-100 in value. — Extract from Report of Pedro L. Mouray on the Plomosas La Abundancia Mines. The Jocuistita Mine. {From a Report by Wm. Ashburner, M. E., May 2A, 1880.) "The mining property known as the 'Negociacion Mineria de Jocuistita' is situated in the San Ignacio mining dis trict, State of Sinaloa, Mexico, about 100 miles northerly from the port of Mazatlan. The property includes a group of nine silver-bearing lodes, lying within a short distance of one another, and on all of which work has been done suf ficient to prove their mineral character. Of these, the prin cipal one, so far as demonstrated, is known as "El Carmen." A narrow ravine extends northerly from the town of Jocuis tita, down which runs a perennial spring of water, sufficient for about ten stamps in the dryest time, while during the rainy season the supply is indefinitely increased. The mill, or hacienda, is situated at the mouth of this ravine, while higher up, on the west side and less than half a mile distant, is the Carmen vein. This is the only vein now worked upon the property, and in it has recently been developed a body of ore which exceeds in richness and extent anything pre viously discovered. This vein has an east and west direction, running towards a steep outlying flank of the main mountain range, which rises abruptly to a height of several hundred feet, forming a sharp crest or divide. There apears little doubt that the lode will be also found extending to the east, upon the opposite side of the ravine, as from what was told me, a small shaft about 4J feet deep was sunk 400 feet from the mouth of the Carmen mine, from which about one ton of ore was extracted, and worked with a milling result of 266 ounces of silver per tou. Subsequently, this shaft was filled, and a tunnel was commenced for the purpose of cross- 120 cutting in depth several of the less known veins, so I was unable to verify the statement by sampling the shaft. The' country rock is greenstone porphyry, lying in close proximity to a reddish trachyte. The vein dips toward the north at an angle of 83 degrees, and in places, particularly where the ore bodies are found, there is a well-defined clay wall; its width varies from a few feet to 17 and 18 feet. The ore is some what complex, containing frequently, besides sulphuret of silver and native silver, zinc, copper, iron and lead, in form of sulphurets, associated with a quartz gangue. Notwith standing the presence ot these base metals, the results obtained by amalgamation appear to be very satisfactory. As the ore comes from the mine it is first assorted by hand, richer portion being selected for shipment to Europe, while what is called the ordinary ore is sent to the mill. At the time of my visit, this shipping ore was estimated as being worth, by assay, about 750 ounces per ton, while the mill, running only fair samples, was producing nearly or quite $1800 per day. The proportion which the shipping ore bears to the milling ore bears, to the milliug ore is very va riable, and depends upon the extent to which the former is segregated from the latter in the vein itself. The mine is worked by a vertical shaft, eight by ten feet, and which is now 133 feet deep. The ore is hoisted to the surface by means of a whim. From this shaft drifts 10 metres or 33 feet apart have been extended westerly on the course of the vein; leaving behind, however, in the form ot pillars, most of the ore, which is of much lower grade than that recently developed in the west end of the mine, and under the mountain which rises above it." A one-half interest in this mine was purchased for $500,000 by San Francisco capitalists. The ore of this mine has as sayed about 50-per cent, silver. The vein, at a depth of about 250 feet, is 40 feet wide, and contains a small percent age of gold and galena. The mine has been worked for some years by Mexicans. The superintendent of the Guadalupe de Los Reyes negotiated the sale of this mine, being- the prin cipal owner. They have worked the mine by a 10-stamp mill, but are now erecting a 20-stamp mill, and are by the old stamp mill producing from $50,000 to $60,000 per month. The ore is rebellious, and is consequently more expensive to work than the ores of many other mines in the State, but the large percentage of silver makes it a very profitable mine. The distance from this mine to Mazatlan is about 80 miles. 121 "The mineral districts of San Ignacio and Cosala, in the State of Sinaloa, have in times past given millions of dollars yearly in silver and gold. The mines of Cosala, more partic ularly, have and still are, yielding large quantities of the precious metal. The ores are very rich and the veins very wide. These as a general rule will yield $500 per ton. The Guadalupe de los Reyes is surprisingly rich in gold and silver. For years this mine has been the source of many quarrels and numberless bloody fights between two families who claimed its ownership. The mine has been held in posses sion by the Vega family, whose wealth and political power enabled them to control not only this very rich mine, but the whole State of Sinaloa. The liberal party at length caused the political downfall of this family; they did not yield pos session of this mine, however, to its rightful owners. Ap English company once offered Vega for this mine one mil lion dollars, which he refused, saying that he did not want any money at that time, and if he did he had only to work his mine, and that would yield him any number of millions — which was true." — Chipman'a Mineral Resources of North ern Mexico. " The district of Panuco is situated in the southern por tion of Sinaloa. In this locality there are several mines; these, before the independence of Mexico, belonged to the Marquis of Panuco. The Marquis obtained from them many millions of dollars in silver. The ores of the richest class are argentiferous, and yield from $500 to $600 per ton. The ores that are treated by amalgamation (which forms the greater portion of the ores found) by the Mexican mode of treating them yield $200 per ton. After the death of the Marquis, the mines fell into the hands of a merchant of Maz atlan, by the name of Machado. He worked the mines very successfully for many years, until his death some 15 years ago, since which time his family have alternately worked them, squandered the products and ran them in debt, and finally abandoned them. " A few miles northwest from Panuco, in the State of Sinaloa, and distant from the Pacific Coast some 30 miles, lies the famous mine of Tajo, situate in a town called Rosario. This mine owes its discovery to a herdsman of cattle. One day while chasing some wild cattle through the woods, a twig of a tree caught the rosary he had suspended to his neck and jerked it from him. Not wishing to lose it nor the animal he was in pursuit of, he threw oft" his hat to des- 122 ignate the spot. Upon his return night overtook him before he could find his animal; thereupon he concluded to spend the night. He built a fire and waited until morning to look for his rosary by daylight. In lighting his cigarette by the coals of his fire he noticed something which glistened in the ashes. Upon examination of this substance by his employer or master it proved to be pure silver. Excavations were made and a splendidly-formed vein was found, rich in silver and gold. The mine was worked and regularly opened, and for sixty years yielded immense treasures to the owners. Upon the expulsion of the Spaniards from the conntry, the mine was left unworked for many years. The church of Santo Domingo stands immediately over some of the prin- principal workings of the mine, and is now 110 years old. The ores of this mine yield an average of $120 per ton. The mine is now worked by an American company, whose headquarters are in San Francisco. A few miles east from Rosario, in the State of Sinaloa, is located a mine called Plomosa. This mine was opened and worked many years ago to a depth of 250 feet by the Mexi cans, producing while it was worked large amounts of silver. The ores gave $250 per ton. A large influx of water sud denly put a stop to operations, since which time nothing has been done to place the mine in working condition. It is a well-attested fact that the mine was yielding largely at the time of its abandonment. Nearly two years ago the mine was denounced, and possession given to some Americans, who now own it. Northwest from Plomosa but a few miles, and in the same State, we find the Mineral of Copala. There are a great number of silver-bearing veins found in this locality, upon which many mines of good reputation are now being worked. Several American companies have erected reduc tion works here, and but for the advent of the French inter vention would have been successfully prosecuting their oper ations. The ores are abundant, and give about $175 per ton. Distant from the coast of the Pacific 150 miles we find the District of Ventanas. At this place some six or seven American companies are working, some with success, and all with good prospects, according to their respective means and skillful or unskillful management. The lodes are very numerous, and all the mines that have been worked gave good results. The average yield of the ores may be safely calculated to be $100 per ton. 123 The placer of the " Canoda de Banazagua" is situated about 16 leagues southeast of Alamos, in Sonora, on the north side of a tributary to the Fuerte River. The placer extends for about 12 miles in the canon, and has been worked to a considerable extent in the time of the Spaniards. The hillsides for all this distance have been perforated in many places, and shafts sunk and drifts run. Some of the works are recent, but the miners not being acquainted with the modes of getting out the water by pumps and flumes, have done all their work by washing in wooden bowls, and abandoning the shaft on encountering water. At the head of the canon drifting has been done to a considerable extent. The soil is composed of a red clay and decomposed quartz; the ore is worked by arastras. The mountain region of the Fuerte is so exceedingly rough and precipitous that no wagon road has ever been (or ever will be) made through it. All carriage is performed on mules, and a man is better off on foot than with an animal under him. Mines of the Fuerte. From Baneyagua east to Las Garobas is three leagues. This is a small place, but gold and silver mining is done here to some extent. Four leagues still further east is the Real del Rosario, another mining place, owned by Sr. Don Bruno Esquessa. The mine i4 situated on the side of a mountain, on .the north side of the hacienda, and the dig gings are surface diggings or excavations. The annual rev enue of this mine, in net profits, is $70,000. There are some gold placers in the vicinity of Chinipas, about 30 leagues north, and the inhabitants are engaged in washing gold! Palmarejo is a silver mine, distant about six leagues from Chinipas. It is worked by Don Miguel Urea of Alamos. This mine is worked on a more extensive scale than any in this section of the country. There are 20,000 ounces of sil ver taken out of it monthly. The ore is taken out by im provised forcing machinery. A four-stamp mill is run by- water-power to reduce the ore. Abundance of water and timber is adjacent; the roughness, of the country compels the owner to carry the ore on mules' backs for nine miles to the mill site. Chois is situated in the valley of the stream of the same name, which empties into the Fuerte River. Its situation is very beautiful, being on a fine plain, with a very pretty view. This town is the natural outlet for all the mines of that coun- 124 try in the northern part of Sinaloa. and is one of the richest mineral districts of Mexico. Its situation at the base of the mountains, its easy access by good roads from the farms and ranchos of the lower valley, aud its facility for communica tion with the Gulf, must make it an important place for trade as well as industry. The whole surrounding country is rich in gold placers, and even the spot on which Chois stands furnishes gold by washing the soil. All the streams in the neighborhood show the color on washing the loose soil of the banks. The town is about four miles from the junction of the stream with the Fuerte River. Las Iglesias is located four leagues up the Chois, where the stream makes a bend, inclosing a. mesa, or table land, of some 25 acres, which is perforated with shafts from 15 to 20 feet in depth, where gold has been sought after. There is plenty of it, and the dirt all pays alike, but the gold is so fine that the natives cannot save it. Above Las Iglesias, one league on the south side of the river, the Arroyo Sabina, or Cypress creek, is encountered, which runs a course due north; follow ing it for four leagues, a branch of the same stream, called Los Pillos, is reached, where the valley bed forms a natural reservoir of waters. This stream heads, in an easterly direc tion, toward a high mountain, ranging north and south, A rich placer is also located here, which has been slightly worked by Indians. Placers have been found also on the Bayemene creek and at Yucorati. At this latter place are old Spanish diggings, the ruins of, their works' showing that here has once been a large population of gold-seekers. The country adjacent is perforated with shafts and drifts. The quicksands in the bed of the creek have hitherto prevented miners from reaching the ledge where the gold may be found. The Mount Serat mine is located iu the vicinity of Re- alito, one league distant. This is a famous silver mine, and is owned and worked by Sr. Don Juan Migloria. Its eleva tion on a high mountain makes it a very prominent object. Mount Serat has been extensively worked, and all around it, in the mountains, shafts have been sunk and drifts run. It is still worked ou a small scale. Some of the most prom inent mines are Todos Santos, All Saints Mine, San Jose and Santa Catarina. The gold placers of Bacoubirito are located at the junction of the tributaries of the Sinaloa River. The soil is appar ently full of gold, and extends over a horseshoe bend of the river for some miles. The gold is coarse, and pays $18 per 125 ounce. Many shafts have been sunk here; water and timber are in abundance. These placers have been considerably worked, and are undoubtedly not exhausted. "The Caudelaria mine is located nine miles northeast of the town of Rosario, Sinaloa, and is on the same belt as the celebrated Tajo mine — distant therefrom only some three leagues. The mining location embraces 2400 feet in length, by 600 in width. The mine was opened in 1860, and the only explorations consist of a shaft sunk to the depth of 100 feet, and the mine being filled water, I was unable to exam ine it. Samples of ore from the pillars yielded from $58 17 pertonto$583 20, Assay. In the process of sinking 100 feet and the stopes from the same, $35,000 was abstracted from the ore. The width of the vein is said to be from five to six feet, The conditions for cheap and econominal work are veiy favorable — both wood and water, the former of the very best quality — being close at hand." — Thomas Price's Report on said Mine, April 14-th, 1881. The San Francisco mine belongs to the family of Maria, and is located in the northwestern part of Sinaloa, upon the northern spur of the Chihuahua range of the Sierra Madre, about midway on the mountain, at an elevation of about 600 feet above the plain of that region. The mine is an old one, developed by shafts, with a depth of about 185 feet in the deepest shaft. The veins are numerous, cropping out of the mountain side, and can be readily traced. The Veta Madre as about three feet wide, carrying free gold and some silver. From $40 to $500 is produced from the ore upon assays made by a competent expert. The average assay is said to be about $70 or $80. We are also informed by an engineer who examined the property, to whom we are indebted for the foregoing, that the mine is now worked by Mexicans, with some six or seven arastras. Besides the foregoing, a very rich gold mine has been dis covered near San Ignacio, in this. State. The Panuco District — This district possesses some very rich mines. The Panuco mines, especially, have lately been favorably reported upon by a mining engineer sent from San Francisco, and the mines have been bonded, with a view to to purchase and development. Dr. Holland has this report in his possession, and we are informed by him that the gen tlemen interested are perfectly satisfied, and are assured that they have made not only a safe but profitable investment. Not having the data at hand we are not able to give the ex- 126 act figures of the assay and the report is omitted, but we present in lieu thereof the following : From a report by Mark Cornish of Nov. 3, 1881. — The Panuco Mining District, situated in the State of Sinaloa, Mexico, sixty-five miles from the port of Mazatlan, is sur rounded by good agricultural lands, supplying all kinds of produce at the lowest prices. The climate is healthy, the temperature ranges from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the location 2,000 feet above the sea level. Work must have been commenced in the different mines of the above mining district as far back as the beginning of last century, because about fifty years later an Indian by the name of Vizcarra discovered the mine called "Faizan," and out of its profits built the churches at Rosario, Concordia, Copala, Panuco and Guadalupe, using in their construction hewn stone and cement, at an expenditure of over five hundred thousand dollars. The silver bullion of this district was at one time the main support of the Royal Treasury at Rosario, where there was an office for the collection of revenue to be paid to the Spanish Crown, on all bullion extracted from the mines. The follow ing are the names of the mines of the district: "Animas Viejas," Faizan, S'ta Eduviges, Estufa, Covalenga, Cuevillas, Boniba, Chinanate, Nieves, Refugio, Amaloton Burrion, Ani mas Nueves, Faizanito, Santa Rosa, Fronteras, Las Remedias, Cuevillas de Charcas, Palo Blanco, Tiempo, Toro, Piojo, Dolores, and San Cayetano, and may be a few more of which we don't remember the names at present. Along the Panuco mine there are still six mills in a ruined state. " The San Nicolas" mill, which must have cost a good deal over $200,000, has, during six or eight months of the year, a water power of 150 horses. The Panuco property also comprises 13 square leagues of the land surrounding the mining district, with plenty of water, abundant pasturage, and covered with pine, oak, and other kinds of timber. We know but very little of the workings of these mines in olden times. By tradition we know of a Mr. Zambrano, who worked some of the Panuco mines at the end of the last cen tury. This gentleman became famous for having erected, in Durango, a palatial mansion, covering a bloek 600 feet long by 400 feet wide, which is used as a capitol of the State Gov ernment at the present time. But what made him world- renowned was his extravagance in constructing the railing of all the balconies of solid silver. But the King ordered him to have them taken down, as, in the order, he said, that even 127 his Royal Majesty would not permit himself to display such magnificence. Regarding the workings of the present century, we know that a Mr. Remus, whose heirs reside in the city of Guada lajara, worked, from 1820 to 1830, the "Santa Eduviges" and " Santa Rosa " claims, with very satisfactory results. Mr. Remus conveyed some of these mines to Mr. Ornezagay, of Durango, and this last one to Messrs. Flores & Gadea, of Tepie. In the year 1844 they were conveyed to Mr. Juan P. Machado, who also bought several other claims, intending to develop more extensively the mining industry of the district. He worked these mines until he died, in 1848. The other mines have been worked by various parties, with excellent results. The average assays from the "Faizan" mine pay $70 per ton,, which is the same as in the "Animas," " Santa Rosa," " Santa Eduviges," "Faizanito," "Fronteras" and "Mina Grande" mines. Rock has been taken out from the Faizan mine which assayed as high as $2,000 per ton, but there is not enough of it. The "Estufa" mine turns out a large amount of ore, but the assays don't average over $40 per ton. The ores from almost all the Panuco mines are free milling, with the exception of those of the " Covalenga." The Panuco mines generally have but little water, and the greatest depth attained in any of them is not more than. 600 feet. From a report by Mr. Frederic "Weidner, Mining Engineer, on July 15th, 1881. — The gold mine " La Union " or Boles mine was worked during the first decade of this century; and whilst there is no official record of what it yielded, the unani mous testimony of surviving contemporaneous residents attest the fact that the mine was very rich, and only abandoned in consequence of the war of independence. A few years ago it was re-located and worked for a while by parties without means enough, who conveyed it to its present owners, viz.: Messrs. Maxemin Hermanos, Roman and Adelaide Osund, and successors of C. Fairbanks, who entered into legal pos session in November last (1881), recording it under the name of " Union Mine." The mine is situated in the district of Mazatlan, 55 miles N.E. of this port (Mazatlan), on the west ern slope of a mountain range forming one of the first steppes of the Sierra Madre, near the source of the Nacaral and Guay mas creeks, which flow through the ravine called the San Juan, and empty into the Mazatlan river. Its summit rears 200 feet above the entrance to the mine, at an elevation of 1,550 feet above the sea, thus insuring a temperate, agreeable and healthful climate. The mine is situated in the heart of a forest of valuable timber, such as venadillo, mora, fig tree,. 128 apomo, and other species, affording an inexhaustible supply for building and fuel. Within a radius of a few miles, on both banks of the Mazatlan river, there are ranchos, farms, and grazing fields, which furnish supplies at reasonable prices. For instance: corn at $5.00 per carga (300 lbs.) ; beans, $3.00; cattle, $10.00 per head. Good labor for the mine and carriers for precious metals are readily secured at the neighboring town of La Noria. The mountain containing the ledges ot the Boles mine is granite, the same as the surrounding region. This kind of rock has the property here of decomposing or crumbling easily ; on the surface forming a peculiar gravel, called by the native Indians "tucurubay," which is easily reduced by the point of the bar or " talacha ;" but at a depth of 3 or 4 metres this same rock is so hard and solid that excavations of six or more metres in extent may be cut out, unsupported by timber and without fear of caving in. A considerable number of veins are traceable on the out-croppings. The only ones which have been worked heretofore are two, both quite irregular and varying in width and depth. The width ranges from 1 to 5 feet. The body of the ledge is composed almost exclusively of white, compact quartz, with a bluish tinge, containing more or less gold ; it being a noticeable fact that the gold occurs here disseminated in invisibly small particles, foliated, or in round or angular masses, varying from fine powder to grains like rice. In some eyes and threads of the vein the quartz is accompanied by pyrites of iron (commonly called "bronce amarillo"), and talc of a dark cloudy green hue, resembling sometimes slate of chlorite, again serpentine, and in these cases these ores are always auriferous, and contain from twice to four times as much metal as the pure quartz. In addition to this auriferous ore, properly so called, there are found in the lower levels pockets of auri-argentiferous ore, containing antimonial sulphuret of lead, with a great deal of gold and some silver. The owners of the mine are now building a new and im proved mill, costing $5,000, in the same ravine which comes down from the mine at only 600 or 800 paces from the shaft. The machinery comprises a steam engine (8 x 16), 18-horse power, driving 5-stamp mill of 650 lbs., an apron, concentrator, Frue patent, and other auxiliary appliances. The yield by the arrastra from 1,204 cargas of the ore was $12,217.60, or over $10.00 per carga. La Joya Mining District. — The group of mines comprised within the boundaries of the "La Joya" property are known as the "Refugio" or " S'ta Eduviges," the "San Juan," the 129 « Gloria," the "Rosario," the "Hilos," the "Relis," the "Vir ginia," and the "San Eugenio" mines. They are situated in the mining district of La Joya, prefecture of Sinaloa, State of Sinaloa, and distant about 120 miles from Culiacan, capital of the State, or 60 miles from the city of Sinaloa, and 90 miles from Plaza Colorado, a safe port in the Gulf of California, through which all high grade ores from the mines are ex ported, and where mining machinery and materials destined for La Joya are regularly lauded. The climate is exceedingly healthy, the temperature ranging from 60° to 75° Fahrenheit. Grain and produce abound in the neighborhood, at very mod erate prices, the property being located within 4 leagues (10 miles) of the best agricultural lands in the country. The width of the veins (of the above property) vary some what in the different mines. Thus the " S'ta Eduviges " or ^'Refugio" averages from 7 to 13 feet; the "San Juan," 13 feet ; the " Gloria," from 6 to 14 feet, and the " Rosario " more than the " Refugio." The veins are encased between good solid walls of dioritic porphyry intercepted by crystal lized poryhyry, in small quantities, combined with decom posed granite in large masses. Along the entire length of the location numberless small veins crop out and traverse the ground in different directions, but no evidence is shown that the main lodes are broken anywhere upon the surface. Mr. Mufioz lays great stress upon the fact that the geological formation of this district favors the production of extensive bodies of rich ores. He decribes the same as appertaining to the trappeanic period, which is of a porphyritic nature, showing a greater ejection of precious metals than other metalliferous zones. The two most interesting mines are the " S'ta Eduviges" and "" Rosario." They have been somewhat extensively opened and much valuable ore taken out of them, and still it is easily shown that their mineral wealth is merely skimmed, as the .average depth of the works does not exceed 420 feet. At this depth the veins are more defined, and the ore chutes become more regular and permanent, and the ore averages a greater richness than nearer the surface. Mexicans never touch a vein which does not pay from its very surface, and then they only follow the ore body encoun tered, until the excavations become dangerous or expensive from want of ventilation or drainage. No dead work of any consequence is ever done. Perpendicular or hoisting shafts are seldom met with in any mining district ; no explorations underground are undertaken to any extent, with a view to discover ore chutes other than the one originally followed in the 130 same vein. No matter what treasures a mine may contain in its lower levels, no cross-cuts are made, and it is simply by accident that more than one ore body is developed in a single vein. And then how often do we see a mine with many mouths or openings, started one after the ether, abandoned as the ore body in the previous excavation would pinch or break off, or as water would be encountered. The ores contain mainly silver with a small percentage of gold. The expense of milling does not exceed $1.31 per carga of 300 lbs., including freightage from the mine. The yield varies according to the quality of the ores, but only such ores are worked as assay a minimum of 40 ounces of silver to the ton, of which there are always great quantities. There is never any scarcity of workmen. The Barreteros or drill-men get $1.00 per diem, and the same wages are paid to timberers. The ore carriers get 75 cents per day, and all other common laborers at the mill only 50 cents for 10 hours' work. The workmen are paid weekly, and receive 75 per cent, of their wages in merchandise and 25 per cent, in coin. The present owners keep a store for the purpose, and reap a benefit of 75 per cent, upon their investment. The ores exported, for account of Messr. Martinez de Castro, show a total of 8,818 sacks, weighing, net, 1,263,447 lbs. The same foot up a gross yield of £55,771 (sterling), 8s., 3d., and equal to about $269,931.64. San Francisco, May 15th, 1882. From a report of Mr. J. C. Turner, made on Feb. 12th, 1881, to the Mexican Exploring and Mining Syndicate, we quote the following : — The Cuatro Sefiores mine is situated in Copala mining district, judicial district of Concordia, 65 miles from the port of Mazatlan. Work was first commenced on this mine August, 1868, and has since been carried for ward, and it has never failed to yield ore in paying quantities. The ledge crops out about 600 feet below the apex of a very high mountain, elevation being 6,000 feet above sea level. The croppings can be easily traced for a distance of 4,000 feet. A tunnel was run in from a point 200 feet below the croppings, cutting the ore vein at a distance of 300 feet. At this point the ledge was found to be dipping at an angle of 60° to the north, the course of the vein being east and west. At the point where the ore was first encountered in the tunnel, it was extracted by opening a large chamber, which is still being continued, and at the present time extends in length on a line with the vein 300 feet, following the foot wall on the south side across the vein for a distance of 170 feet, with ore still in 131 the face and no appearance of any hanging wall as yet. The highest place of the chamber or stope is 70 feet above the tunnel, through the entire face of the slope. The vein looks well and yields large quantities of high grade ore. The ore has rnn from $50 to $364 per ton. An eight-stamp mill is reducing the ore on the Panuco river at the rate of ten tons per day. The mill is about one and a half miles from the mine, and the ore is transported by pack mules from the mine. This mine is one of the valuable properties of Sinaloa, and is mostly owned by Mexicans residing in Mazatlan. The Nuestra Sefiores mine is located north-east of Cosala, on the Elota River, near the source, and almost on the boundary line, and is owned by Mauri cio La Madrid, and is about 20 miles from Cosala. This mine contains two classes of ore; one being lead and silver, while the other is free milling silver ore. The depth attained is about 200 feet. The lead-bearing ore assays about $80 per ton, aud the free- milling ore nearly $120, on an average. This mine is reported to have reached a " bonanza " that assays as high as $1,000 per ton. An attempt was lately made to purchase this mine for $500,000, an expert having been sent to exam ine the property, who reported very favorably upon it. A small, four-stamp prospecting mill, for the purpose of pros pecting the mine, has been reducing the ore, and the result is said to have been very satisfactory. This is an old mine, and very celebrated; and Mr. Ward tells us that its former owner, Don Francisco Iriarte, at one time (in 1825) refused an offer of $1,000,000 for the privilege of working this mine for three years, by a foreign association. The mine is free from water, and situated at a considerable elevation above the plain. It contains a vein of gold of considerable breadth, and its former reputation was fabulous. Barreteras Mine. — This mine is celebrated. The town of Cosala was built up by it, and a church founded upon its productions. The mine has produced many bonanzas, yielding rich results. The character of the ore is native silver. The mine is developed by a shaft of 500 feet in depth, and by a tunnel over 1100 feet in length, from the side of the mountain into the heart of the vein. The mine is located at the summit of the mountain, in the Sierra Madre, distant from Cosala about six miles west. The view is grand from this point, extending over a hundred miles, as far as the eye can reach, over mountain-tops. The vein is about two feet in ore deposits. It reaches only six or eight inches with seams of native silver, that are extracted by the' 132 barraton, or a chisel. The pockets reach, sometimes, 20 or 30 feet along the vein at irregular distances. The mine is owned and worked by Mexicans. The character of the rock surrounding the vein is a granite formation, easily worked. The ore is smelted by furnaces. The ore is almost virgin silver, as at Batopilas. The lower levels are filled with water. At one extremity of the district of Cosala is found a great number of gold aud silver bearing quartz mines that are said to be very rich. The ore carrying gold is mostly free mill- iug, and the mines have yielded very largely in the past. They have been worked extensively by natives and Span iards; but on reaching water, could not go any farther, in the absence of machinery, and the mines were consequently abandoned, after a large expenditure of capital upon them. Another cause of abandonment was continual revolutions, or organized robbery, that forced the owners to pay a tribute on their wealth, and at last drove them away ; and either fearing to return, or finding lucrative employment and mines elsewhere, the mines, consequently, became entirely abandoned and filled with water. There are many of these old mines closely grouped to gether that are not adjacent to any settlements, but in the midst of one of the wildest regions of the mountains, that is hardly ever entered, save in the search for lost cattle. A good wagon-road may be constructed from these mines to the river, and reach a railroad that is to be built, passing within 15. miles of the mines. Wood is abundant, and water sufficient to run an ordinary mill the year round. There are quite a number of extensive veins of rich gold and silver bearing ores in this region that have yielded largely wherever they have been worked, within a radius of 12 miles, and all contain ores easy of reduction. To the east of this locality* is located another rich mineral region, called Vetillas, from the large number of rich veins that have been found in the neighborhood. The ores are more uneven and rebellious; but the location is good, with a perpetual stream passing through the district and adjacent to the_ location of the mines. The mountains are of high elevation, with hard-wood trees covering their sides that would be valuable for timbering the mines, etc. Here are located furnaces for smelting the ores, which were aban doned with the mines by the former owners. The celebrated Guadalupe de Los Reyes mine is located within about 24 miles of these antiquated haciendas; north- 133 east, and other mines that are being worked with good results. This is an old mining region, that was worked by Spaniards under the Spanish regime; but the owners were obliged to flee in the war for independence. The ruins of ancient arastras and furnaces are numerous, and prove the locality to have been extensively worked. These mines have not been worked for about 70 years. The old mill-site could be restored, and the mines reopened, providing an ex pert should deem the enterprise profitable. The arastras were run by water power, and the veins opened as close as possible to the stream, which naturally filled the shafts with water. One of these old mines was called Mina de Plata. The residents nearest to these mines report that they were very rich, and contained bonanzas. The adjacent river bottoms are planted with orange, lime, and plantain trees in different places, with other tropical fruits. A wagon-road can be constructed from this point to Ma zatlan, at a small cost, passing through or near large ranchos that are cultivated extensively, producing corn, beans, sugar cane, and other productions. This region is located uorth from Mazatlan, distant about 70 miles. The Palmarajo is another old district; also, the ancient mining district situated in the northern part of the State near the boundary line of Sonora, called the De Chois and Ycora districts, that were, at one time, extensively worked, and contains some good mines; also, the celebrated ancient mining district of San Jose de Gracias, which is located in the midst of an almost inaccessible mountainous region, in the northern part of the State. Since their abandonment years ago, they have scarcely be'en worked but by gambu cinos. This region formerly had a fabulous reputation. CHIHTJAinJA. CHAPTER I. General Description. The State of Chihuahua is bounded on the west and south by Sonora, west by Sinaloa, on the north by New Mexico and Texas, and on the north-east by Texas along the Rio Grande, and on the south by Sinaloa and Durango, and on the east by Coahuila. The area of the State extends over 100,000 square miles, with a sparse population of about 190,000. The state is divided into 18 cantons or departments, as follows: Iturbide, Aldama, Abasolo, Victorio, Rosales, Meoqui, Morelos, Bravos, Hidalgo, Allende, Camargo, Balleza, Jimenez, Guerrero, Galeana, Rayon, Matamoras, and Ar- teaga. The great plateau west of the Rio Grande region consists of undulating prairies, with here and there a conical shaped hill, and extends to the Sierra Madre mountains on the west and south-west. There are some depressions in the plains which, if opened, would supply water. Then we have the large body of water south-west of El Paso, known as Lake Guzman, and the River Mimbres. This river rises in the Rocky Mountains, in New Mexico, and, after eours- iug through the plateau, discharges itself when full into Lake Guzman. It seldom reaches the lake, however, its waters being absorbed or lost in the sandy plains. Its sources have never been traced out, as far as known. It must flow about 130' miles, when full. Lake Guzman, during the wet season, is about 30 miles long and from five to six miles wide, and seldom dries out entirely, although it is almost surrounded by sterile tracts of land covered with sand plains and alkali, interspersed with sand-hills. It is located about 60 miles south-west of El Paso, more in a westerly direction. These sand plains extend the most of this distance, after leaving the Rio Grande region, until the neighboring lands of the lake are reached. 134 135 The whole water system of the state embraces, besides Lake Guzman, four other small lakes or pools, called Maria, Cande- laria, St. Martin, and Patos, and are all located north of the central part of the state, in depressions of the table lands, with the exception of lakes St. Martin and Candelaria, nearer the center and south and south-west of the sand plains. In the mountain ranges and spurs of the Sierra which are cut with deep gorges and canons, and which are located in the western, south-western and southern part of the state, there are many mines of the precious and useful metals, containing gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, tin, saltpeter, bituminous coal, and cinnabar. This region is also noted for forest trees of great value which cover the mountain sides, especially near the water-courses and between the ranges. The Sierra Madre range extends along the western boundary of the state, and is almost impassable except at the northern and western, south-western, and southern, part of the state, through the canons of these localities. The Mulatos River, sometimes called the Papigochi, which is a branch of the Yaqui River in Sonora, rises in the Sierra Madre, south-west of Chihuahua City, and flows north-west through a pass in the mountains east of, and near Aribechi in Sonora. The tributaries from the neighboring valleys flow into this stream (Mulatos) near the pass. The river Buenaventura also rises iu the Sierra Madre and flows north of the Presidio of Bu enaventura into the small lake or pool of St. Maria, while another small stream loses its waters in the table lands near the Presidio de Janos, which is connected with a road to Bapispe in Sonora on the west, about 40 miles distant. The river Carmen rises west of lake St. Martin and empties into lake Patos in a northerly direction. South-east of lake Patos is located another extensive sand and alkali plain on the table lands that reache to the hills bordering on the valley of the Rio Grande and the river Conchos, over a terri tory of about 120 miles long and 40 wide. The latter river has many tributaries taking their rise in the mountains south of the central part of the state, and flows by Santa Rosalia, San Pablo, and other towns in a northerly course, with many windings, into the Rio Grande at the Presidio del Norte, and is about 300 miles long. East and south-east of the riv er Conchos and south of the Rio Grande extends the vast desert called "Bolson de Mapimi," which embraces all the extreme eastern part of the state south of the Rio Grande and also a portion of the state of Coahuila on the east. In this plain are dried-up lakes, and the whole is completely 136 covered up with a vast tract of sand and alkali plains which are sterile and completely deserted, and entirely^ destitute of water. Near the rugged sierras are mesquite - covered plains, but beyond them lies the vast desert of Bolson de Mapimi, extending over 250 miles from north to south and 100 miles in width, through which no traveler ever passes, as the road to Durango and Mexico lies to the south-west. Thus it will be seen that a large portion of Chihuahua is absorbed on the east by the desert lands, and north-east and the south-west by mountains and broken regions, the latter taking up about one-third of the state, and the former, or about one-fourth, is desert wilds. The balance of the region on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mex ico is mountainous through Coahuila, New Leon, and Ta maulipas, bordering on table lands that are intersected with rivers flowing through small valleys into the Rio Grande, and is very sparsely settled until the slope toward the gulf is reached. On the Rio Grande is located Laredo in the state of Ta maulipas, which has assumed some importance on account of the Mexican Central terminating at that point, passing through Monterey, New Leon, and other cities on the direct. route to Mexico City. Mr. Ruxton says that " the State of Chihuahua produces gold, silver, copper, iron, saltpetre, and other minerals; but it is productive of mineral wealth alone, for the soil is thin and poor, and there is everywhere a scarcity of water; but it is a paradise for sportsmen. In the sierras and mountains are found the black and grizzly bear of the Rocky Mount ains, the latter of which is very abundant in the neighbor hood of Chihuahua. The big horn, or Rocky Mountain sheep, and black-tailed deer, the ' cola prieta,' (a large spe cies of fallow deer) a species of pheasant and quail in abund ance, and birds of brilliant plumage are found. Among the reptiles are the rattlesnake and copper-head, and scorpion, the latter of which is found all over the republic. The charac teristic shrub of the elevated plains of Chihuahua is the mesquite, a species of acacia, which grows to the height of 10 to 12 feet. The seeds contained in a small pod are used by the Apaches to make a kind of bread or cake, which is sweet or succulent to the taste. The wood is extremely hard and heavy. "In Durango and Chihuahua, the ranchos are supplied with such simple goods as they require by small traders, resident in the capitals of those states, who trade from one village to 137 another, with two or three wagons, which, when their goods are sold, they freight with supplies for the cities or mines." There are about 200 villages and towns in the state, the principal ones being Chihuahua and El Paso del Norte. The former is the capital, and is located south of the central portion of the state, about 230 miles from El Paso del Norte and El Paso Texas on the Rio Grande. Soil, Productions, and Grazing. The soil is fertile, especially on the water courses between the mountain ranges and along the Rio Grande. Outside of mining, grazing forms the principal pursuit; though the vine, wheat, corn, peas, beans, barley, cotton, and sugar cane, are cultivated to some extent. This is a great grazing state, abounding in stock, which are disposed of in Texas and Kentucky. Good grazing is found on the table lands in many places, where immense herds of stock of all kinds are raised: although along the water-courses the best grazing is found. Along the Las Casas Grandes, and Conchas, and other streams, which almost entirely disappear in the sands during the dry season, immense herds of stock are raised. In the neighborhood of Chihuahua, about 170 to 180 miles south-east of Lake Guzman, are located extensive ranchos. One of these is owned by Don Encinallas. This rancho has about 300,000 head of cattle, sheep, horses and mules, on its grazing lands. Some agricultural productions are also raised in the state on the banks of the streams which are used to irrigate the lands. The mines of the State constitute almost its sole feature of importance, outside of the grazing or raising of stock on the fertile table lands and banks of the water-courses. The climate of Chihuahua is varied; cold in the winter, aud in the mountainous districts it reaches the freezing point; and snow falls about two feet deep. In the valleys the tempera ture varies from the cool and pleasant in winter to heat in the extreme. The climate of the state on the whole can be said to be much cooler than either that of Sonora or Sinaloa. 138 CHAPTER n. Chihuahua. The city of Chihuahua is the capital of the State, and is located west of the Conchos River near the center of the state, and is distant from Mexico," in a direct line, about 1,250 miles; from El Paso, in a south-west direction, about 230 miles; and from Guaymas, by way of Baleza, iu Chihuahua, and Alamos, in Sonora, 500 miles. It is reached by a stage or wagon road from El Paso, on the north, and Laredo on the Rio Grande, on the east in Tamaulipas — the projected terminus of the Mexican Central R. R. — by way of Durango; and Mexico on the south-east, byway of Du rango, a direct line of communication being opened to all of these points. From Alamos, through Batopilas, it is about 230 miles. The road through to Alamos has not yet been put into complete condition for wagons; hence, the most of the travel in that direction is on the back of mules. The city of Chi huahua was built toward the close of the seventeenth cen tury, although the State was originally inhabited aud occu pied at Las Casas Grandes by the Aztecs many centuries ago. No one knows the date, farther than by the records of the ancients, which say that the state was occupied by the Aztecs at that place in 1160, or over seven centuries ago. The city of Chihuahua is well laid out, with the streets crossing each other at right angles. They are broad, well paved, and kept quite clean. The square called the Plaza Mayor is quite extensive, and ornamented on one side by the famous cathedral, which has been pronounced by American traders to be one of the finest structures in the world. This building cost $800,000, and is constructed of brown stone masonry. It is surmounted with a dome and two towers, and is in imitation of the modern Gothic, mingled with the Moorish style of architecture. It is a large building, having a handsome fagade embellished with statues of the Twelve Apostles. On the otner side of the Plaza, there are public and pri vate buildings, including the ancient State House. The unfinished Convent of San Francisco also looms up from the other buildings, a ' ' conspicuous mass of masonry and bad taste," says Mr. Ruxton. In the center of the plaza, which is adorned with flowers and orange and other trop- 139 leal trees and shrubs, a beautiful fountain plays day and night, which is supplied with water continually by a well- constructed aqueduct a little over three miles long, which carries water from a tributary of the Conchos River or stream. This aqueduct supplies the town with water, and is supported on several stupendous arcades, which adds much to the massive architecture in the town. The large cathedral was built out of the proceeds from one mine in the vicinity, which struck a bonanza that con tinued for nine years, and was apparently inexhaustible. One real was laid aside for each marc of silver produced, and a fund was formed, out of which this magnificent cathe dral of Chihuahua was built, and a reserve fund formed of $100,000. A mint is also located here. Much trade is car ried on between this city and San Antonio, Texas, and St. Louis, and Santa Fe\ It is also the resort of many strangers from New Mexico, California, Texas, Sonora, and Sinaloa. The city contains about 18,000 inhabitants. The Jesuit Convent of San Francisco before mentioned is celebrated as having been the place of confinement of the patriot Hidalgo, the Mexican Hampden, who was executed in a yard behind the building, in 1811. A monument has been erected to his memory in the Plaza de A rmas, and is a pyramid of stone, with an inscription eulogistic of his character and patriotic record. The shops are filled with goods from the various points before mentioned, and it is not unusual to find the finest of imported silks, and other costly articles from Europe and India. Traders arriving in Chihuahua either sell their goods in bulk to resident merchants, or open out a store on their own account. The goods are brought across the bor der from the United States in wagons; and some years ago, a law was passed by the state, charging a duty of $500 for each wagon-load, without takiug into account the value or nature of the articles. The result was, that one wagon was made to carry three loads, to evade the duty on two loads. This has been abolished since, we understand, and the. laws relating to duties are general throughout the republic. The city of Chihuahua supplies all the surrounding country. Las Casas Grandes and its Legend. The famous Las Casas Grandes, or Great Houses, are located towards the north-western part of the state, on the west bank of the Las Casas Grandes River, which flows into 140 Rio los Conchos. Here lie, decomposing and moldering un. der the luxuriance of vegetable growth, the ruins of Aztec greatness. A legend is related by Spanish historians of the migration of the Aztecs to Chihuahua and Arizona, where a portion also located and built the Casas Grandes, ruins of which are now seen in that territory. The legend is found in the work of Antonio Garcia Cubas, and in the works of many other Spanish writers, and is as follows: "Huitziton, a person of great authority among the Az tecs, heard in the branches of a tree the trilling of a small bird, which in its song repeated the sound 'tihuc,' the lit eral meaning of which is, 'let us go.' Huitziton being struck at this, and communicating his impressions to another personage, called Tecpaltzin, they both induced the Aztecs to leave their country, interpreting the song as a mandate from divinity. Even to the present ^:ay, there is a bird known among the Mexicans by the name of ' Tihuitochan' (Let us go home). "Iu 1160 they commeuced their peregrination, and passing by a large river in which historians concur in being the Colorado and which discharges itself into the Gulf of Cali fornia, they advanced toward the river Gila, after remaining for some time at a place known to-day by the name of Casa Grande, not far from the shores of that river. From thence they" continued their road and again took up quarters at a place to the north-west of Chihuahua, now called like the previous stopping place, Las Casas Grandes, and whose ruins 6how the vast proportions of the ancient building and fort ress. Leaving behind them the wide " Sierra de la Tara- humara," they afterward went toHueycolhuacan, now Culia can, capital of the state of Sinaloa, and there remained for three years, during which time they made the statue of their god Huitzilopochtli, which was to accompany them in their expedition. "During their peregrination the tribe was divided into two factions, one faction settling on a sandy promontory calle 1 Tlaltelolco. The name of Mexico was given to the new city, in honor of their god who was born of a virgin belonging to the family of Citli, and he was cradled in the heart of a maguey plant (or metl); hence the name 'Mecitli,' after ward changed into 'Mexico.' The popular drink of the Mexican people is made from this same plant, and is called 'mescal,' a strong intoxicating liquor." From the appearance of the Las Casas Grandes or the 141 great houses, it would seem that their outer proportions were the lowest, and not above one story high; while the central Ones were from three to six stories high. The ruins are con structed of adobe, though these are much larger than those in use among the Mexicans- at the present day. From a report touching a close examination of Las Casas Grandes, it is to be inferred that they occupied a space of at least 800 feet from north to south, and from east to west near 250. On the south side a regular and continuous wall or fortifica tion may be traced, while the eastern and western fronts are extremely irregular, leaving projecting walls. Within the inclosure there appear to have been several court-yards of greater or less dimensions. Las Casas Grandes here resem ble those near the Pimo villages on the Gila in Arizona. The town near, of the same name, has about 1,500 inhabit ants. CHAPTER in. RIO GRANDE REGION. Near El Paso del Norte there is a good agricultural coun try.' This town is located iu the extreme north-western portion of the state on the Rio Grande. The products of this region are grapes, fruit, wheat, Indian corn, and other cereals. The bottom lands along the Rio Grande are ex tremely rich, and extend back from the river about one mile; beyond this rolling hills into the table-lands, which con tinue until broken by the valleys of the four lakes and their streams before mentioned. About 70 or 80 miles from El Paso del Norte, in the interior, in a southern direction, the land is sterile, as before mentioned. Then as the country nears Baranca, a small town situated east of Las Casas Grandes, the country grows better, and the soil extremely rich, in places. South of these sand plains there is a good grazing country. There is no water to be found near these sand plains, and water has to be carried in crossing them. The Rio Grande region extends along the Rio Grande the whole extent of the north-western boundary, and small towns are occasionally met with on the road, among which may be mentioned El Presidio del Norte, and San Vicente. Much stock is raised all along this region, and some agricul tural productions. 142 Prom El Paso to the City of Chihuahua. Mr. Julius Froebel recounts as follows a trip from El Paso to Chihuahua City in 1859. He was in company with some merchants, and we give his description for the benefit of our readers: " For the first five or six days journey from El Paso to Chihuahua, a choice of two roads is presented. The one is considerably shorter, but dangerous and difficult, as it takes a southern direction over the notorious medanos, or quicksand hills, the other avoids these by following the. course of the river two days journey' as far as the village Guadalupe, aud again joins the high road somewhat to the north of Carrizal. We chose the last, and our caravan pro ceeded down the valley to Guadalupe. The road, at first, passed close along the base of the allu vial terrace, through thickets of mezquite and a scrubby plant of the order of compositae, then it wound up the ter race, which consists of sand-gravel and fragments of rocks overgrown with mezquite, larrea, fouquiera, artemesia, shrub by labiate, cacti yuccas, etc. In some places the river had formed its channel close to the terrace, forming a perpendic ular sand cliff, rendering the road at its very edge in no slight degree dangerous." The town of Guadalupe is reached in three days travel from El Paso. About six miles lower down the river, a new village named San Ygnacio has been founded by the settle ment of New Mexico immigrants. From hence (Guadalupe,) the Sierra de Cantarrecioonthe left and the Sierra Guadalupe on the right, the road rises gradually to the higher ground south of the Rio Grande. The space between the above named mountains is a plain rising somewhat to the south, and covered with the common chapparral of these localities. At noon we stopped at Can- tarrecio, a watering-place, where we found only a tittle mud dy water. In the evening, when dark, we passed — turning to the west, by a slow ascending plain of firm clayey soil, which contracted to a small mountain pass — the chain of hills, by which the terrace of Centarrecio is separated from that of the medanos, and encamped for the night on the opposite side, on a grass covered plain. The mountain peaks, near the pass, are bare, rocky and iu some places of grotesque form. On the right an opening passes through the rock from one side of the mountain to the other, and one of our Mexican drivers told me that this part of the mountain is 143 named from this circumstance Sierra de la "Ventana, " Win dow Mountain.', This name, however, did not appear to be generally used, for a gentleman, who had accompanied us from El Paso, called it Sierra de los Medanos, or Sandhill Mountain. Behind this road, as we approached it from the East, the needles and peaks of the Sierra de la Rancheria, which bears a striking resemblance to the Sierra de las Or- ganos. Farther on eastward appears another similar mount ain group called Sierra del Caudelario. In the plain at the back of the former are the Charcos del Grado, pools sur rounded by mimbre bushes. (Mimbre is a beautiful shrub which in Northern Mexico, from Rio Grande to California, flourishes on the banks of intermitting streams. It is a biquoniaceous plant, with pink and white blossoms, and long pendant lanceolate leaves — a chilopsis.) In the afternoon we distinguished as we thought, the smoke of five fires in a southerly direction, but the next day we dis covered that they had been clouds of dust caused by whirl winds. In the evening we advanced over a level plain towards a mountain chain of perpendicular rocks, anong which one remarkably angular and definod in its form, the Cerro de Lucerr o attracts attention. We encamped next morning at Ojo de Lucerro, a spring near the Laguna de las Patos. This is a lake on the left of the road. The plain is mostly covered with grass, but near the Cerro de Lucerro tracts of clay or sand are covered with an effervescence appa rently of carbonate of soda. One road, at least, took us over places of this nature, and from appearances, it seemed probable that, to the right of the road, they existed to a considerable extent. It was over this portion of the plain, that we had seen, and now saw more closely, those columns of dust. Their recurrence in the same locality may be accounted for by the nature of the soil. At no great distance from the Ojo de Lucerro we met with another spring, Ojo del Coyote, remarkable as rising in the summit of a sandhill about twenty or thirty feet high. This curious circumstance is however easily explained, the sand hill being built up by the spring, It is surrounded by the same kind of efflorescence. The Mexicans call this salt, which they collect for soap-boiling, "Tequesquite," evi dently an Aztec word. A few miles farther, at no great dis tance from the Laguno de los Patos, a warm spring rises in several eddies from the white sand. It forms a clear, tepid brook, which flows into a piece of water, surrounded by tall 144 reeds, on the side of the road. This place was frequented by numbers of waterfowl — ducks, coots and a large black, web-footed bird, with very long legs, long neck and long bill, called by the Mexicans " Gallareda." They flew, when dis turbed, in wedge-shaped flocks, with outstretched necks, like geese. The spring and piece of water are called Ojo de la Laguna. The water is slightly alkali, and a white efflor escence collected at its edge. In eight days travel Carrizal is reached. The situation of Carrizal is one of the most beautiful on the North Mexican table land. An extensive plain, watered by several streams, is surrounded in the distance by a girdle of bare, steep mountains. A clear mountain . stream, dis pensing fertility to field and meadow in its course, flows through lands between varied banks for miles through the plain, its course marked by rows of poplars. Twenty years ago herds of manj' hundreds of thousands of cattle grazed upon the plain; now they have dwindled to the mere shadow of their former numbers, and, comparing this locality with the wealth it was known formerly to possess, the conclusion is irresistable that, of all destructive animals, man is the worst. The place, indeed, is full of ruins, and lies on a raised platform, consisting of hard red clay, with pebbles and fragments of sandstone, evidently changed by the influ ence of heat; black sloamaceous lava, yellow and green sienna, much resembling pumice, and numerous pebbles of chalcedon. The country is bare of trees, with the excep tion of the poplars along the irrigating canals, so that they are literally the only trees visible throughout the whole journey from the Rio Grande to Chihuahua. We reached towards evening, two days later, a warm spring of rather high temperature, named Ojo Caliente, which rises at the base of a group of phonolitic hills. The water, which is clear and pure in . taste, forms a considerable stream, but I am not sure whether it reaches the Laguna de los Patos, or is retained in the plain for purposes of irrigation. Numerous fish sported in its waters. We traveled next day from morning till evening between bare mountains, over rocky, treeless, but grass-covered hills, and passed a portion of the night on the broad, level pass of Chinate, a notorious place, where numerous bones of men and animals warned us not to leave hold of our arms. Many parties of travelers have been attacked here by the Indians, with much loss of life.. The rocks consist of a green and. grey hard phonolitic porphyry. We started at two o'clock 115 in the morning, in order to reach the Laguna de Encinillas without a halt. Toward eight o'clock we came to a descent in the rocks which, from the name of a hacienda on the other side of the mountain, is called the descent of Agua Nueva, and leads to the lower level of the lake. The hacienda of Agua Nueva is one of the few large grazing estates in North Mexico, where the herds still exist on the old Mexican scale of cattle keeping. As we descended the hill, the largest herd of antelopes passed, that I have ever seen. It must have numbered more than 1,000, and extended from one mountain to another straight across the valley, vanishing as quick almost as thought from our sight. The plaiu in which the Lake of Encinillas lies, is surruounded by steep mountains, and is one of the richest aud most valuable localities in the world for •cattle grazing, in times past supporting inumerable herds; now it is almost a dessert. The trip consumed fourteen days. Los Medanos. The medanos or sand-hillls are a peculiar feature of the northern part of Chihuahua, and are encountered on the road from El Paso to Chihuahua City. These hills stretch in a line from northwest to southeast for some twenty miles, and are about six miles across from northeast to southwest. Nearly destitute of vegetation, their light yellow-whitish appearance presents a strong contrast to the deep brown of the adjacent mountains during the dry season. This saudis very light and fine and forms deep ridges resembling the waves of the ocean, which are continually shifted about by the winds, entirely obliterating the tracks of passing caravans •or stage.' The whitened bones of mules and cattle project here and there from the sand, with an occasional carcase which was dried up before the wolves discovered it. Although this route is the shortest by some sixty miles it is invariably avoided by trains or loaded wagons. These, take the river route which passes entirely beyond their farthest southern extremity. Persons on horseback, pack-mules and light pleasure wagons, or the stage, alone attempt to cross the hills. This place is also attended with great danger from the attacks of the Apaches, who well know the helpless condition of animals passing and take the opportunity to at tack parties. From Correlitos there is no other road to El Paso for wag ons, except by making a complete circuit around these hills. 146 This point is one of the favorite places of attack of the Apaches, and is peculiarly dangerous on account of the late hostile demonstrations by these murderous bands of savages. Travelers are warned to avoid this point of all others while traveling through Chihuahua. Prom Chihuahua to Durango. The distance between the cities of Chihuahua and Durango is from 390 to 400 miles. The most of this distance is only traveled by mule pack trains, although a wagon road could be easily opened. The direct route leads through small towns and villages. The trail takes a southeast direction over the plain, about 40 miles when a small pond or lake called La Cieneguilla and a small stream that empties into the Rio Florido a branch of the Rio Conchos, about 30 miles traveled, reaches the rancho Alamito, which is situated about 8 to 10 miles from the banks of another stream empty ing into the Florido. A stretch of about 55 miles takes the traveler to Hidalgo, at one time quite an important town. The trail then continues almost due south to San Jose del Parral, distant, about 35 miles. Here the line of travel takes a southwest course, crossing the headwaters of the Rio Florido, about 25 miles further. The Fuerte Cerro Gordo is reached about 8 miles beyond. The distance to Las Pin oles is near fifty miles, over a dry barren region. The trail following the same course, it here takes a southerly course to Fuerte de Gallo, nearly 30 miles distant, 35 miles fur ther reaches the Rio Mapimi, near which is located on the road the rancho San Lorenzo. Crossing the valley of the Mapimi, taking a southerly course, brings us to Cuencame, a stretch of 40 miles. Cuencame is a busy little place, whose industry makes it flourishing. Large smelting furnaces are here in operation for the smelting of the ores of silver which abound in the mountains. The furnaces are well built, of brick, on the English plan. The inhabitants are engaged at their differ ent occupations in the most assiduous manner, quite differ ent from most Mexican villagers. It is fifty leagues to Durango in a southwest direction. The first portion of the road is over a range of volcanic hills, and the latter is along an elevated table land. It is easy for the traveler to come from Eagle Pass, on the Rio Grande, to Cuencame by wagon, but to Durango from this place a good riding mule or sure footed horse is much better, and for the conveyance of bag- 147 gage pack animals will be necessary. Animals can be purchased cheaply at Cuencame, and those that are used to strong, rocky ground, as the country there is very gravelly. The first twenty miles after leaving Cuencame are pretty rough traveliug and bring us to a stock-raising rancho, where plenty of mules are bred of a fine quality. Here water is elevated to the surface by a drum propelled by mule power. Twenty miles north of this place is a valley where cotton is raised, and where there are some factories at work manufacturing the "mauta," an unbleached cotton cloth much used by the Mexicans. It is a flourishing little place. From here the road leads over a valley covered with a growth of the vinasgas, whose fruit is much relished. by the people of the country. The valley also affords fine grazing, but water and timber are very scarce. Twenty-five miles takes us to a fine prairie, at the lowest part of which is a deserted rancho called El Saucito, or "The Willow." A large willow tree shading a spring of cool, refreshing water gives the place its name. From El Saucito to El Sauz is twelve miles, over a high country slightly timbered. El Sauz is in sight for ten miles before reaching it. This is a stock and grain rancho, as is also Laguna, twelve miles on the road, where a lake or lagoon is found. The next forty miles of road are over an undulating country. There are four miles of road in one place so stony that you are forced to dismount and lead your mule. It appears that a hail storm of stones had fallen on those four miles. Beyond this bad road are some water wells, but the water is brackish. A little further on is the haicenda of Los Chonos, or the Wa ter Spout, where water flows abundantly out of the ground. This is really a fine place, built of solid masonry and white washed. There are large droves of sheep and mules on this rancho The residence of the " Amo," or owner, is a pretty piece of architecture, the colonades being in the Corinthian style and all else about it showing unusual refinement. The country around Los Chonos is thickly wooded with mesqnit and the soil rich. One or two farms may be discovered in the clearings. From this place to Durango is thirty miles. Three leagues from Durango is the crossing of the Rio de Hautruipi, near which is situated a fine hacienda, but it is not visible from the road. Between this one and Durango is a large haicenda, said to be one of the richest in the State. From here a fine road leads into Durango, which is seen at a distance from the plain. 148 El Paso del Norte. This town was named from the ford on the river and the pass between the mountains, and literally means the " pas sage of the nor.h." This is the oldest settlement in the northern part of Mexico. A mission was established here by El Padre Fray Augustin Ruiz, one of the Franciscan monks, about 1585. The colony was composed of twelve families from Old Castile, under the leadership of Don Juan Ofiate. Several years after the first settlement the Spanish colonists of New Mexico were driven to this settlement, where they erected a fortification and maintained themselves until the arrival of reinforcements from Mexico. The pop ulation of the place has not increased much since the year 1848, as there were then 5,000 to 6,000 inhabitants — about the same number as now. The colony divided the lands bordering the banks of the river, into small plats of twenty acres each, and gave one to each family, on which they raised corn, potatoes, beans, and vegetables, and planted small vineyards and fruit trees; and the river was dammed up in dry seasons, about a mile above the ford, and water con veyed by an aqueduct or main canal to irrigate the bottom lands. The whole settlement was intersected in every direc tion with dikes. They manufactured the grapes into wine and brandy, or " aguadiente," the latter of which is much esteemed in Chihuahua and Durango. Under proper man agement, wine-making here might become a very profitable branch of industry, for the soil is especially adapted for the vine, and the interior is supplied with French wines at an enormous price. Wine may be made of the El Paso grape, equal to the best growth of France or Spain. The river bottom is timbered with cottonwoods, where it is not culti vated for a few hundred yards on each side of the stream. The town of El Paso del Norte is located opposite the town of El Paso, Texas, on the American side, and runs down the river about three miles, and back one mile. The region is thickly settled for several miles farther down, and back five miles from the river. There are a number of vineyards in a high state of cultivation. The town has two or three principal streets, on which most of the business is transacted. The streets are narrow, irregular and dusty. The houses are built of adobe, and the windows are barred with iron gratings. The doors are fastened with wooden bars inside, and are clumsy affairs. Carts with large wheels, hewn from logs, are still used here — the same clumsy and heavy vehicles so often seen in Mexico. 149 § ¦ This town, although presenting a somewhat unsightly ap pearance to the visitor, is destined to be one of great im portance, and will soon serve as the distributing point for the whole of north-western Mexico, including Sonora, Chi huahua, Sinaloa, and Durango, on the completion of the rail roads centering here. The Rio Grande River is a shallow, muddy, sluggish stream, and not over two or three feet deep at this point, during the dry season, but assumes large proportions in the wet season. The banks are low and sandy, aud the course of the stream ofteu changes, and, for this reason, the towns on its banks are mostly situated high up on its banks and on the neighboring plateaus or bluffs. The water in the river is very good for drinking aud cooking purposes, and not so impregnated with alkali as the well water in use by the inhabitants. The river, at this point, is small, but in the time of the rainy season it swells to six times its width in the dry sea son. It isfordable in almost any part, but from the shifting bars and quicksands, the passage is always difficult for load- el wagons, and often very dangerous. The stream abounds in large fish of an excellent flavor, and large eels. During the rainy season the ford is crossed by a ferry-boat. The settlements extend down the river some distance, in little groups or towns, for some 15 miles, and are mostly inhab ited by Mexicans, with here and there some few exceptions. Some enterprising Americans having planted vineyards, are carrying on a very good trade in wine and brandy with the interior. Mining Districts and Mines of Chihuahua. The principal mining districts of Chihuahua are, the Guadalupe y Calvo, Zapuri, Batopilas, Urique, Guazaparez, Jesus Maria, and Potrero, Morellos, Chinapa, Piuos Altos, Concepcion, Cusihurriachic, Magurichic1, Hidalgo y Teno- rivo, k->an Francisco del Oro, and Hidalgo del Parral. The Guadalupe y Calvo mines, which are located in the southern part of the state, are mostly owned by a New York company, who purchased them from an English company, who obtained vast profits from working them. The mines oi this district obtained their great reputation from the immense wealth brought to their English owners. The Zapuri District is also very rich, aud is owned by Becerra Eermanos. The mines of this district, which are now being 150 worked, are said to be the richest in the state of Chihuahua. The Batopilas District is mostly owned by several American companies aud individuals, and is located in the south-west ern part of the state, about 90 miles from Fuerte, in a north-east direction. The celebrated San Miguel mine is owned by the Bato pilas Consolidated Mining Company, of New York, with other mines in this district. Mr. Shepard, of Washington City, owns the controlling interest of this company, which is amassing immense profits from their mines. The San Miguel, which is now yielding from $7,000 to $8,000 per day, is located near this point; and while work ing the mine, they reached one of three veins that produced bonanzas of from 50 to 90 per cent, pure silver; the rich places being found sometimes in one ledge, then in another. The Santo Domingo, which is located on one side of the San Miguel, and is owned by Mr. Kirk, of Philadelphia, struck a bonanza upon the same ledge that was passed through by 'the Sau Miguel, without finding rich ore, though the latter mine struck a bonanza on the next vein beyond. The Nevada Tunnel Company's mine, owned by Becerra Hermanos & Co., was opened near the converging point of the different veins, expecting to strike it rich on the other side, to the right of the San Miguel mine; they reasoning that if the veins all converge at this point, which the angles of the ledges or veins indicate, they will find one solid bo nanza of all the veins in one. If this is true, the result will be millions to the owners. These mines are all located in the Batopilas district, the veins of which produce virgin silver, with little or no alloy with copper or base metals. We were shown specimens of ore taken from these mines, and found them to be from 50 to 90 per cent of virgin silver. These specimens are to be seen at Mr. J. F. Schleiden's office, of this city, who very kindly gave us valuable inform ation in relation to the mines of Sinaloa, Chihuahua, and Durango. The Urique District contains many rich mines, and is owned by the Becerra Hermanos. The Chinipas District is on the road to the Guazaparez district, and possesses some very good mines. The latter district contains some rich mines, and is entirely owned by Mexicans. The Jesus Maria District may be mentioned next, to which we have given special attention in the reports of 151 assayers and mining experts; the greater part of which information is found in the valuable book of Mr. Mowry, on Arizona and Sonora. The mines of this district are all owned by Mexicans, and are now worked to great advan tage. * The Pinos Altos District is mostly owned by English and American companies. The district of Morelos is also, with the Pinos Altos, very rich in ores that yield marvelously. We might add that the Batopilas district is completely surrounded with mountains containing milling ores. The silver is almost entirely native in this whole region. The celebrated Tajos mine is located in the Batopilas district, and is famous for its beautiful specimens of ores. This mine is also owned by the Bacerra Hermanos. There is another silver mine in Parral, that has a shaft 300 feet deep, that pays $175 per ton, according to the assay of Salazar, assayist, of Tucson, Arizona. This mine is located in the southern part of Chihuahua, in the Sierra Madre range, in the vicinity of other silver mines. The vein, Mr. C. Orcilla, the owner, who is now in this city, says, is from 12 to 24 feet wide, and is located in the town of Parral, that has 6,000 in habitants. The river, or Parral Creek, runs through the town. There is good grazing in the vicinity, and it is sur rounded by cattle ranchos. It is in a region well settled. The mine is an old one, and the extent of possession is 600 by 200 varas. The ore is milled near the same place by the primitive arastra. The ore is carried to the arastras on the backs of mules. The mine is for sale, and can be purchased of Mr. Orcilla. The El Minero Mexicano, of December 9th, says that the mines of Hidalgo del Parral might be explored by the expenditure of $500,000. Mines of Jesus Maria and San Jose Districts. " The Nuestra Senora del Rayo mine, in the district of Jesus Maria, was discovered shortly after the discovery of the mine of Jesus Maria, from which the mining town de rived its name, iu the year 1823, and is situated in the west ern range of mountains of the creek of Jesus Maria, at one- and-a-half miles from the town. " The Rayo was discovered at the same time as the cele brated Santa Juliana Mine, from which it is about 500 varas distant. Its first owners were Messrs. Tomas Suza and Tomas Rivera, who worked it successfully, with good re 152 suits, in gold and silver. It was abandoned on the discovery of a bonanza in the Santa Juliana mine, of which they were part owners. This happened in 1826. It was afterwards worked by the Siquerio Bros, until it became filled with bad air, caused by careless management. The mine was after wards almost ruined by gambucinos. Sr. J. C. Henriquez, in 1858, denounced it to restore it, which he subsequently did, and it is now being worked. The extent of possession of this mine is 700 varas verti cally, the vein having an inclination of from 15 to 20 de grees, and running east and west. A drift shaft 25 varas long and 5 wide has been opened, with firm walls, from whence two shafts have been sunk, leaving a pillar of 14 to 15 varas between. A drift was run from them of large ex tent. There is also a vein of auriferous, argentiferous quartz in the vein proper. It runs from 2 to 10 inches in thickness in four different veins, running parallel with each other. The ley of the ores was 24 ouuces of auriferous silver per carga, or 160 ouuces per ton. The intrinsic value of the silver of this mine, according to the statement of the government assay er of the district was 11 d. 2 gr. silver, 100 gr. gold, realizing 11 d. per marc at Jesus Maria prices. The ore discovered in widening the walls, when these auriferous veins were first discovered, contained more silver than gold, yielding at the rate of $1,500 silver to $100 gold per carga of 300 lbs. It afterwards changed into more gold, and yielded over $100,000 per ton. Later, this vein changed into its former state. More or less rich pockets are found at uncertain intervals. The ores are easily reduced under the common Spanish amalgamation process. This Rayo mine is situated near the top of a mountain range, from 300 to 500 varas above the creek. The entrance to the mine is on an almost perpendicular side of the mountain. Timber is abundant, and at three miles distant. It is hardly half a mile to the hacienda of Quiutana. Santa Margarita is situated at the Rosario, about three miles distant from Jesus Maria, and was formerly owned by Messrs. Gutierrez, Guerrefla & Co. The vein is steep, slant ing from one-half to one vara wide, its gangue being lime- spattle with virgin gold of 960 m. ley per ton. The vein runs east to west 2 degrees, incline north ; extent of pos session, 800 varas. The mine has filled with water, and has three shafts. The common ore always paid $72 per ton. The better class reached $25,961 per ton, and the best ore, 153 $71,680 per ton, with gold selling at Jesus Maria at $12 to $14 per ounce. The improvements on the mine are one stone building — a "malacate," or large horse-windlass. An outlay of $4,000 to $5,000 would put the mine in working condition, providing the malacate windlass was used. " San Jose. — The Rosario gold mine is adjoining the Santa Margarita mine, aud is supposed to be the same vein. The vein is almost perpendicular, and from one-half to one vara in width. Several shafts and drifts have been run. The best and second-class ore has paid a similar ley as that of the Santa Margariia, while the common and inferior ley pays from $3 to $4 per carga, or from $20 to $25 per ton, while the heavy residue of the ground and worked ore pays six ounces to the arroba, of 25 lbs. "Zaroche" is the name for gold of low color, containing silver. On one occasion, a carga of 300 lbs realized $10,000, having reached a rich pocket. Extent of possession, 800 varas. This mine is now full of water. "The Candelaria mine is situated about half a mile from the town of Jesus Maria. The vein runs almost perpendic ular from one to two feet wide, The ore is hard, but docile under the amalgamation process. The lowest yield has never been less than $48 per arroba of 300 lbs— $320 to $3243 per ton as the highest. " The gold of this mine sells at Jesus Maria at $10 per ounce. The mine is on the top of a mountain range 400 varas above the creek, and was full of rain water; extent of possession, 800 varas. "The San Rafael mine is distant three-quarters of a mile from Jesus Maria town. The vein is nearly perpendicular, direction south to north, inclination from 15° to 20° east, and is about one and a half feet wide, on an average. The gam bucinos filled up the most of the shafts with rubbish and cle- stroyed them. The balance of the shafts from the first drift are filled with water. The lowest ley has never been less than one marc to the cargo, the residue or -'polvillos " pay ing from two to three marcs silver per arroba, or about '$110 per ton. This silver is auriferous, and sells at Jesus Maria at $16 per marc; extent of possession, 800 varas. ' " The Hacienda Quintana is the point established for the re duction of the ores, and is situated in the center of the min ing town Jesu3 Maria. It consists of three stamps and eight arastras, all the machinery of which is moved by an overshot wheel run by water. The hacienda reduces three and a half tons per 24 hours, aud is fed by the creek Jesus Maria." 154 The principal mines of El Parral, situated at the city of Parral, are six in number, known as the Prieta, Mercaderas, Tajo, San Antonio, Leona and Ronquilla. These mines are famous in history and have a national reputation, having yield ed over $60,000,000 in silver, and are with those of Batopi las and Jesus Maria the most important in the state of Chi huahua. The mines are located on a small mountain of the foot-hills of the Sierra Madre range called "Cerro la Cruz," which overlooks and is within walking distance of the city. The Prieta and Tajo mines have been extensively worked by the Spaniards and Mexicans. The workings in the former, following the body of the ore, have left an immense hall or chamber, showing the amount of ore that has been extracted. The height of the chamber reaches 260 feet and width follow ing the vein, extends from seven feet two inches to over twenty feet, and length from 150 to 200 feet. At the bottom the vein is from seven feet two inches to fifteen feet wide. At the extreme north end the ore as shown by assays made last year carried 67 ounces of silver to the ton, a few feet fur ther south 82 ounces, in other parts 146 ounces, 77 ounces, 66 ounces, 139 and 180 ounces. The Mercaderas mine is next to the Prieta, not being however connected with it. At the point where is situated the Mercaderas mine the same vein is narrower, but from this mine a very large quantity of silver was taken, very rich ore having been found. At the Tajo, however, the vein is wider than it is at the Prieta, having in the Tajo. and from there to the Ronquilla a width of from twenty-five to sixty feet, the ore being quite as rich as that found in the Prieta. The above described property was bought by Hon. Joseph Knotts while U. S. Consul at the city of Chihuahua, from dif ferent parties and consolidated by the company known as the Knotts Mexican Silver Mining Company of Chicago. A ten stamp mill has been erected with suitable storehouse buildings and all the necessary appurtenances in the shape of furnaces, pumps, etc. The city of Parral, which is called Hidalgo del Parral, is a place of about 10,000 inhabitants and is over 200 years old. It is as orderly and quiet as any city of its size in the United States and has a considerable trade in supplying mines in the vicinity. The foregoing report upon the mines of Parral is taken from a report of A. J. Howell on the consolidated mines of Parral. From a report on " Pastrana," in the Batopilas district, by Jno. C. F. Randolph, M. E., we quote the following data : 155 "The diorite is the rock in which the productive silver veins in this locality are found. Extending from the north east corner to the southwest corner of the belt, a distance of perhaps four and a half miles, there seems to be a bonanza line of white panina, on which all the great bonanza veins of Batopilas lie. No great bonanza veins have as yet been found outside of this line. The peculiarity of this district lies in its containing veins of calc spar in the diorite carrying native silver. This occur rence is only known in one other locality in the world, while near the surface chlorides of silver, black silver and ruby sil ver are found. The eventual ore has always been found to be native silver highly crystallized and often massive. This ore is richer and more cheaply and easily treated than any other ore of silver. In this district the cases are many in which veins have gone into bonanza over and over again, and this indeed is the usual experience with bonanza veins. These veins do not bear one blossom and then stop bearing. This is notably the case with the Veta Grande vein on the property whose history has been given (San Miguel of the Consolida ted Batopilas S. M. Co.). This vein gave a bonanza netting in four years almost $3,000,000. Within eighty feet of this bonanza, a new bonanza was struck into last year which has already produced $200,000 to very slight efforts, and in the portion already developed contains upward of $400,000 more in place, waiting for the arrival of a mill to treat it. The rule with all the mines of this district has been that, although they may carry chloride of silver on the surface, the eventual ore at a depth is native silver in all its grades of massive, Brossa, Cispeado, Clavo, and Azogue."— [J. C. F. R. in " Silver Mines