96 



SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



sand inhabitants. It is now in a state of 

 decay; most of the haciendas for preparing 

 the silver ore being in ruins, and the ex- 

 pensive water-courses, which formerly turned 

 the ponderous machinery for pounding the 

 ore, now neglected, and concealed by the 

 thick vegetation with which they are over- 

 grown. 



The appearance of so many strangers in 

 this retired little town excited some surprise 

 among its inhabitants. I was the first Eng- 

 lishman that had ever visited it. We were 

 hospitably received at the house of Don Jose 

 Benitas, where Mr. Wilcox was met by Mr. 

 Goulde, his American engineer, and many of 

 the people whom he had brought from the 

 United States for the purpose of erecting the 

 steam-engine then putting up at his own 

 mine, distant about a mile from the town. 



After partaking of a good Spanish break- 

 fast, for which our long ride gave us an 



