MEXICO. 395 individual, who " denounced""* the existence of a metalliferous vein upon any particular spot, exclusive possession of a cer- tain number of varas, (yards,) measured from that spot upon the course of the vein, which were called a Pertinencia, and became the real, bona fide property of the Denouncer, upon condition that he should undertake certain works for the ex- traction of ores, within a given time. If this condition were not complied with, the spot selected reverted to its original state of unappropriated Royal property, and might be again denounced, by any other individual, before the Mining Depu- tation of the District, which could not refuse a title to the new applicant, on his proving that, during the time specified by the Ordonanzas, no attempt had been made by the first de- nouncer to work the vein. No other intervention, direct or indirect, took place on the part of the Crown. The King (individually) was not proprietor of a single mine, nor is there one instance, since the Conquest, of an attempt having been made by the Government to interfere with the mode of working adopted by individuals, or to diminish the profits of the successful adventurer, by exacting, under any plea, or pretence, from the more fortunate, a higher rate of duties than that which was payable by the poorest miner to the Royal Treasury. By this judicious liberality and good faith, the fullest scope was given for private exertion ; and this, in a country where mineral treasures are so abundant, was soon found to be all that was requisite in order to ensure their production to a great extent. The duties, however, which were payable upon the whole
- To " denounce/' in the Mining Code of Mexico, implies that pro-
cess, by which a legal right of possession is obtained to a particular portion of any vein, worked or unworked, known or unknown, which a Miner chooses to select for his operations. I have adopted the word be- cause we have no equivalent for it in English. It probably originated with the first discoveries, when a person might be fairly said to announce, or denounce a vein, the existence of which was not previously known.
