EXPULSION OF THE SPANIARDS. 155 
when the vein was productive, and reserved nothing for the 
future when unremunerative work should become necessary ; 
and thus many fine mines were abandoned when a small 
expenditure would have again made them profitable. 
Besides the indolence, extravagance, and ignorance of the 
new owners, a second blow fell heavily upon the mining 
interest—the withdrawal of troops from the frontier pro- 
vinces to take part in the intestine strifes nearer the centre. 
The Opitas rebelled and caused much damage to the mining 
districts of the north-east; the Apaches discovered how 
things were, and poured down from the north in larger hordes 
than ever. 
The third adverse influence was the work of the Gam- 
bosinos. Under the mining laws of New Spain, the miner 
was obliged to support his mine by leaving a sufficient 
number of pillars (formed of ore not removed) to ensure its 
safety ; but under the Republic no laws could be enforced, 
and when the mines became abandoned, they immediately 
fell a prey to the Gambosinos (men who worked in companies, 
but each for himself), and as the pillars came first to hand, 
and yielded immediate returns, they were removed, and, in 
consequence, down came the walls, burying beyond reach the 
unexhausted treasures of the mine itself. Thus it is that 
most of the old mines of this State, the best and most 
productive, having enriched their original owners and being 
still unexhausted, are now mostly buried under their own 
ruins. Notwithstanding this, the general opinion amongst 
those who are capable of forming one is, that the path which 
leads to the most important mineral deposits is sure to be 
found by following, to a great extent, the footsteps of the 
Spanish miners. They found the best veins, and would have 
increased the production of silver year by year, had they not 
