74 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



foothills of Colorado. Here are all the essentials, 

 the stables and corrals, the dormitories, the labora- 

 tories and machine shops, the residence of the 

 officials, and perched upon the steep sides of the 

 highest loma we had yet seen — Matahambre — 

 are the sheds covering two tunnel openings, with 

 ore dumps trailing below. The Matahambre 

 property, though still in swaddling clothes, has 

 passed the stage of a "prospect" and is a mine of 

 proven output and real value. It is privately 

 owned and its stock is not for sale, a truly remark- 

 able mining concern. 



We were cordially received at the administration 

 building by Mr. Morse, the director of the mine, 

 and bidden to a luncheon of luxurious quality. 

 With great kindness he had already arranged for 

 horses. We were all provided with good mounts 

 relieving us from the chief worry and fatigue of 

 Cuban mountain travel. The trails in the sierras 

 are often very steep and in the rainy season are 

 always slippery. A horse not accustomed to them 

 would soon come to grief, but even among the 

 mountain ponies, there is a great difference. The 

 best of them are sure-footed as goats and show much 

 intelligence in negotiating a bad path, and on level 



