174 NEW MINES. 



coarse cake-sugar called piloncillo, to which is 

 sometimes added a little crude ranchero 

 cheese ; yet they seem perfectly satisfied. 



To prevent collisions among such heteroge- 

 neous multitudes as are to be found at the min- 

 ing places, some municipal provisions have 

 been established, in pursuance of wliich any 

 person may open a labor or pit on unoccupied 

 ground not nearer than ten paces to another, 

 and is entitled to the same extent in every di- 

 rection, not interfering with prior claims— his 

 labor bemg confirmed for a small fee by appli- 

 cation to the alcalde. But if the proprietor 

 abandon his labor for a certain time, any one 

 that chooses may take possession. 



Besides the Placer of which I have already 

 spoken, others have lately been discovered in 

 the same ledge of mountains towards the 

 south, one of which is now extensively work- 

 ed, being ah-eady filled with retail shops of 

 every description, where all the gold that is 

 extracted, is either sold or bartered. The 

 gambuctnos being generally destitute of all 

 other resources, are often obhged to dispose 

 of then- gold daily— and very frequently in 

 driblets of but a few cents value. Pkccres of 

 gold have also been discovered in the moun- 

 tams of Abiquiu, Taos and elsewhere, wliich 

 have been worked to some extent. In truth, 

 ^ some of the natives have justly remarked, 

 ^ew Mexico is almost one continued placer; 

 traces of gold being discoverable over nearly 

 the whole surface of the country. The opi- 

 nion formerly entertained that gold is only to 



