MINING ANECDOTE. I7l 



com 



which he had made 

 mencement. This mine, diirerent from the 

 rest of the Placer, consisted of a vein of gold 

 in a stratum of rock, which it was necessary 

 to grind and separate with quicksilver ; and as 

 it belonged to a native named Ortiz v/ho knew 

 notliing of this operation, the lattffr formed a 

 partnership with Don Damaso Lopez, tlie Ga- 

 chupin before alluded to, who had some ex- 

 perience and skill in minhig operations and 

 the extraction of metals. The partners went 

 vigorously to work, and at the close of the first 

 month found that their net profits amounted 

 to several hundred dollars, consisting in a few 

 balls of gold. At the sight of these, Ortiz was 

 so oveqoyed that he must needs exhibit his 

 valuable acquisitions to the governor and 

 other officers and magnates of the capital, 

 who, with characteristic cupidity, at once be- 

 grudged the Gachtipin Ins prospective fortune. 

 A compact was thereupon entered into be- 

 tvveen the qficiales and the acquiescent Ortiz, to 

 Work the mine on their jomt account, and to 

 exclude Lopez altogether. This they effected 

 by reviving the old decree of expulsion (spok- 

 en of In another place), which had virtually 

 become obsolete. The unfortunate victim of 

 this outrageous 



ordered to the frontier, as the patriotic officers 

 alleged that they '■' could no longer connive 

 at his residence so near the capital in conti-a- 

 vention of the laws." 



The new company now commenced opera- 

 tions with additional zeal and earnestness. 



conspiracy was accordingly 



