REGLA. 



69 



thing to lose, for if I defended myself, and even beat off 

 or killed my assailants, I am known to every robber in 

 the country, and I should be stabbed secretly, if not shot 

 openly ! It is different with los signores estrangeros, if 

 they choose to run the chance ; but los signores ladrones 

 Mejicanos seldom attack when they are not sure to over- 

 power." 



During the morning's ride over the wide plains, in the 

 bright and cloudless sunshine towards Real del Monte, 

 we were led to reconsider our plans for the day, on find- 

 ing that, as we were desirous of seeing the hacienda 

 and barranca of Regla, we might attain that object in 

 the course of the day, by going a few leagues out of the 

 direct road to the silver mines, without falling short of 

 our arrangement to arrive that night at Real del Monte. 

 Accordingly we resolved to leave the mules to their fate : 

 and, sending them forward on the main road, under the 

 conduct of Miguel, and a little valet of Espindola's, our 

 small party turned aside, under the escort of the latter* 

 We soon reached the town of Puebla Grandede Mittan, 

 the situation of which, more to the east, had long been 

 indicated by the huge church which rises over its mot- 

 ley collection of habitations. We allowed ourselves no 

 breathing time here, further than a hasty glance at the 

 church and a draught of pulque required ; but continued 

 our route over an elevated district of singular sterility, 

 commanding, however, noble views of the surrounding 

 chains. After two hours' ride, we descended into a 

 valley, with occasional haciendas scattered over its sur- 

 face, and shortly after found ourselves at the brink of the 

 Barranca of Regla. A well-constructed road, upon 

 which we had been pacing for some time, conducted us 

 by a rapid descent into the recesses of this celebrated 

 ravine, when we suddenly came in sight of the immense 

 pile of the hacienda and its Moorish church tower over- 

 topped by the lofty colonnades of columnas basalt which 

 form the sides of the barranca. In the abundant supply 

 of water which rushes down it, you find the reason which 

 has led to the choice of this singular locality for the 

 erection of those colossal works for the smelting and 



