

452 



Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



> 



Here, too, we find carbonate of lime;,. 



more 



"We continued our northern course across the moiintain, and soo» 

 commenced to descend, and in our route stopped at Mr. Campbell's 

 .gold mine. Here the ore Is composed of a very porus and vesicu- 

 lar roik, that crumbles with a slight blow, and one can easily brrak 

 off pieces with the hand from the roof and sides of the mine. 

 The vein is nearly horizontal, and its bearing a little north of west, 

 (N. 50"^ W.,) and runs through compact limestone. The sides of the 

 mine are full of pockets and rounded projections. Mr. Campbell 

 says that ore found near the surface of the earth proves the richest 

 and that he finds the gold does not defray his expenses when he- 

 penetrates to a great dcp»h. 



it occurs in rhombohedral crystals. These mines are much 

 extensively worked than those of Real Viejo, and, notwithstandirxg 

 the scarcity of water, I have been told by several persons that not 

 less than 2,000 people congregate here in th6 winter season, when 

 they can get water from the snows. These workers spend the 

 preater part of their time under ground, living on *^aiole," 

 lute kind of corn mush; sometimes coming forih to the light of 

 day, when they wish to sell the product of their labor. 



The value of these mines cannot very well be estimated now, as 

 there have been manv improvements in the methods of working gold, 

 which, when adopted at these mines, may produce a great increase 

 in their annual yield. Al present, none of the owners of these 

 gold mines have ever become wealthy by their mining operations, 

 and I have met several who have sunk all they had 



a di- 



for gold. 



in searching 



Mr. Campbell tells me that he got from his wells one piece worth 

 $700, anif, at another time, a piece worth $900; these were at first 

 carried ofl^ by the workmen, but were of such value that the whole 

 truth, with reference to the thtft, was exposed, and our host re- 

 covered his property. 



The raising of sheep would be much more profitable if it were 

 not fur the depredations of the Navajoes, Even 

 bers are raisef!, whose flesh is as 

 Some of the ^^Kicos" on the Rio del 



now great num- 

 fine as any I have ever tasted. 



Norte are said to own 40^000 

 valuable, and can be bouo^ht 



shtep. Wool is not considered very 



for 4 cents a fleece, or a proprietor will permi't any one to' shear 

 his sheep for $1 the hundrrd. 



^ J - ^ — .^.v 



douMed up and arran^t>il close to the wall 



The houses througliout the country are furnished with mattresses 



, . , , ..,,'» ^" 3S to answer for 



se^ts; these are covered with beautiful Navajoe blankeis worth 

 from 50 to 100 dollars. The walls, mulway np, are covered with 

 cahco, to prevent the whitewavh rubbing off; and the who'e in- 

 tenor of the houses of the wealthy is covered with mirrors All 

 the hidalgos p-ide theniselves on allowing nothing but silver to ao 

 proach tneir tables; even the plates are of silver. But w-th all 

 this air of wealth, true comfort is wanlingj and very fe'w of our 



blessed land would consent to live like the wealthiest Kico in N^vr 

 Mexico. u X ew 



While we were at Tuerto the following notice was received, 



\ 



