212 MULE-HUNTING EXPEDITION. 



The swarthy Mexican miner deputed as guide 

 leads the way along a narrow gulley, and down an 

 incline to the mouth of another hole, the descent 

 to which has to be effected on a slanting pole, 

 with notches cut in it, very like a bear-pole, 

 called by the miner an escalera, requiring a salta- 

 tory performance that would not have been so 

 bad if I had only known where I should have 

 landed in case of falling. After this we scramble 

 down a flight of steps cut in the rock, and 

 reach the lowest excavation, about one thou- 

 sand feet from the surface. 



The cinnabar is found in large pockets, or in 

 veins, permeating a kind of trap-rock ; and as 

 the miners dig it out, large columns or pillars are 

 left to support the roof, and prevent the chance 

 of its falling in. A small charcoal-fire burned 

 slowly at the base of one of these massive 

 columns, and as its flickering light fell dimly, 

 illuminating with a ruddy glow the bronzed faces 

 and nearly nude figures of the miners, the ver- 

 milion hue of the rugged walls and arched roof, 

 sparkling with glittering crystals, forcibly re- 

 minded me of a brigand's cave, such as Salvator 

 Rosa loved to paint. 



All the work is done by contract : each gang 

 taking a piece of ground on speculation, is 



