- 462 CHIHUAHUA 
found about three hundred varas (two hundred and 
seventy yards) from its present location, and had been 
moved at different periods by the people of the haci- 
enda to the place where it now stands. It was brought 
hither with the design of putting it in a blacksmith’s 
shop, to be used as an anvil, although it had never 
been so employed. Anattempt was made to reduce 
- it, by building a large fire around it, and heating it to 
a white heat. But so intense was the heat from so 
large a mass, that the workmen could not approach it, 
and all their labor was lost. The expense of this ope- 
ration was more than one hundred dollars, and resulted 
in obtaining a piece of the metal large enough to work 
into a pair of spurs. 
On the top, which is quite smooth, is an inscription 
bearing the date 1600; but I was unable to make out 
a single word of it, so much has it been defaced by 
hammering and the addition of many crosses. It is 
said that the inscription gave some account of its re- 
moval. ; 
Sefior Urquida invited us into his house, to give 
us the particulars of the weight of the mass as esti- 
mated by his brother. We accepted his invitation, 
and were conducted into a very handsome suite of 
apartments. Here we met several gentlemen, all of 
whom were of the higher class, extremely affable in 
their manners, and in their conversation showing much 
intelligence. Every thing within and around indicated 
an air of comfort such as I had seen in no part of the 
country, save in two or three houses in the capital. 
A library of well-selected books in Spanish, French, 
and English, some fine pictures, a piano, etc., showed 
