Page:Mexico of the Mexicans.djvu/135

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The Provinces and Larger Towns
117

industries of this State; but, of course, during the revolutionary outbreak this industry has greatly languished. Chihuahua is first and foremost a cattle country; indeed, it is the great meat-raising district of the Mexican Republic, the surplus-sage going north across the border to the United States. Large ranches are the fashion in this State, and the number of animals on some of these enormous haciendas is equal to the population of a small manufacturing town. Some of Chihuahua's cattle kings rule stretches of territory populated by thousands of bullocks, on a scale as extensive as anything of the sort to be found in South America.

The State of Sonora, to the west of Chihuahua, is second to it in size and, because of its proximity to the border and its very considerable coast-line, is destined Sonora. sooner or later to achieve great commercial importance. Like the country on the east coast, it slopes down from a height, until by the time one reaches the sea he finds himself in a tropical climate, where, strangely enough, the soil is almost entirely barren. The country suffers from a lack of rivers, and thus agriculture is in rather a backward condition. But mining flourishes, and the commercial capital, Guaymas, smelts much precious metal. Of course, the Revolution has been active in this State as well as in that which marches with it, and it may be said that public opinion here is rather anti-federal than otherwise. The Sonorans are, however, thrifty and law-abiding if well treated; but if roughly dealt with, as many of the mine hands have been by Yankee overseers and others, they become fiercely resentful and make nasty enemies. There is plenty of room in this State for teetotal effort; and Chinese coolies have introduced the more sordid types of vice, as they do wherever they go.

Coahuila, to the south-east of Chihuahua, is another large State, fertile agriculturally, wealthy minerally, and healthy climatically. It is not too much to state that the future of this State is assured because of its great natural resources. There