Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/595

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MEXICO IN 1827
575

nery; but it is said that the lodes were extremely rich in native silver, and that, in the principal mine, solid masses of this metal had been actually cut out, when the progress of the works was stopped by the water.

This may be one of those embellishments in which mining districts abound; but there is nothing improbable in the supposition, the same thing having occurred in other parts of the Sierra Madre, as well as in the mine of Barranco at Bolaños; from which I possess a piece of silver, which, but for a small portion of the matrix attached to it, would, from its size and purity, be pronounced to have been already submitted to the action of fire.

From Durango, Mr. Glennie, whose observations I must still take as my guide, proceeded to Chĭhūāhuă, respecting which State my stock of information is very limited.

From the report transmitted to Congress by the Governor, in conformity to the 161st Article of the Federal Act, it appears that the population of the State, according to the census of 1821, amounted to 112,694 souls, of which about one-third are pure Indians, inhabiting the dreary mountains of Tărăhŭmāră, and half civilized by the missionaries who reside amongst them.

The revenue of the State, in 1825, was 69,369 dollars, and its expences, including the contingent, 63,422 dollars. The inhabitants are thinly scattered over a vast tract of country occupied by great