CHAPTER VIII. 
HERMOSILLO. 
Peculiarity of its Situation.—A Marble Mound.—The Town.—Architecture of — 
the Houses.—The Gardens.—Ruinous.—The City taken and retaken 
several times during the War.—Assault by the Liberals.—Rescued by the 
Opita Indi 
dians 
compared.—A nnexation.—Any Change must be for the better. 
HERMOSILLO is a most curious and interesting old town. © 
In the first place, its situation is peculiar. For 2° of lati- 
tude our route had been on the eastern side of a vast 
plain, not far from the base of the mountains. On the — 
western side of this plain lies another range, too distant to 
be seen from Santa Anna, but gradually encroaching up? — 
the plain until it jos the eastern range a little below 
Hermosillo. The San Miguel River emerges from the eastern 
range just above Torreon, and, having joined the Rio Sonora, | 
cuts through the western range at Hermosillo. In the very 
gap through which the river passes the city is built. In the 
centre of this gap, and rising high above the houses all 
around it, is a curious natural mound composed of variegated — 
marbles, chiefly white and pink, which stands out boldly — 
against the sky. It is called by the Mexicans “ Bell Rock,” — 
on account of the metallic sound given out by the strata whem — 
struck. oe 
One would suppose, from the size of the place, that — 
it contained about 15,000 inhabitants; but as every third 
