ai i ana ec UNINN re 
THE SILVER TRADE. 111 
As the charge for parting the gold and sil- 
ver at the Mexican mints, is generally from 
one to two dollars, and coinage about fifty 
cents, per pound, this assayed bullion yields a 
profit upon its current value of nearly ten per 
cent. at the United States Mint; but, if unas- 
sayed, it generally produces an advance of 
about double that amount upon the usual cost 
at the mines. The exportation of bullion, 
however, is prohibited, except by special li- 
cense from the general government. Still a 
Jarge quantity is exported in this way, and 
considerable amounts smuggled out through 
some of the ports. 
A constant and often profitable business in 
the ‘silver trade’ is carried on at these mines. 
As the miners rarely fail being in need of 
ready money, they are generally obliged to 
sell their bullion for coin, and that often at a 
great sacrifice, so as to procure available 
means to prosecute their mining operations. 
To profit by this trade, as is already mention- 
ed, was a principal object of my present visit. 
Having concluded my business transactions, 
and partially gratified my curiosity, I returned 
to Chihuahua, where I arrived November 24, 
1835, without being molested either by rob- 
bers or Indians, though the route is some- 
times infested by both of these classes of in- 
dependent gentry. 
But, as it is now high time I should put an 
end to this digression, I will once more re- 
sume my narrative, where it was interrupted 
at my arrival in Chihuahua, on the first of 
October, 1839. 
