from undertaking to assist them. Disappointed in their unreasonable expectations, they now, I believe, would be glad to repair their error by granting very favourable conditions to the adventurers; but even in this case great caution would be requisite, as some claim upon the mines is still retained by Zămbrānŏ's family, and it would be necessary to take precautions against the possibility of a lawsuit before any attempt could be made to bring this most valuable district again into activity.
A little below Gūārĭsămĕy, and in the same ravine, is the district of San José Tăyŏltītă, which contains the celebrated mine of Lă Ābră, one of the last worked by Zambrano. It was opened in bonanza, and continued so to the depth of 100 varas, where the progress of the works was impeded by water; and this was never drawn off, in consequence of the death of the proprietor, which took place at Durango. His nephew, at the commencement of the Revolution, collected what money he could, by extracting the pillars of all the mines belonging to the house of Zambrano, and fled to the Peninsula with the produce. The mine now belongs to Don Antonio Alcalde, one of the executors of Zambrano, and would, if worked anew with the other mines of the district, with a little science and activity, probably yield immense profits. The whole should be undertaken, however, as one negotiation, as, in such insulated districts, to make roads, and organise supplies, for a small establishment, is a very unprofitable task. Of the
