74 



REAL BEL MONTE. 



dollars monthly. The energy and skill of our country- 

 men in the construction of new shafts, and the substitu- 

 tion of steam for animal power— the great roads con- 

 structed to Regla and to Vera Cruz, whence all their 

 heavy machinery has been transported on its arrival from 

 England ; and the order and wisdom evident in all the 

 operations, are not unworthy of the British name. 



At the same time, there is something about mining 

 speculations in any country, and more than all in a coun- 

 try like New Spcin, where justice and reason have so 

 little sway, which would make me advise any friend of 

 mine to take a slower but surer mode of seeking his 

 fortune. 



In consequence of the number of artificers and miners 

 transported hither, an English colony has sprung up in 

 Real del Monte, and it was moving for me to see the 

 flaxen hair and blue eyes, and hear the prattle of many 

 English children, gambolling in close vicinity to the swar- 

 thy offspring of the mixed races of the country. 



From the eminence to the south of Real del Monte, an 

 excellent bird's eye view is attained of the general dispo- 

 sition of the works. 



The great vein runs through this elevated mountain 

 mass, nearly in a direction of east and west underlying 

 south, with a variation of 24 degrees. All the works 

 are to the south of the town, and are seen disposed up 

 the slope of the main ridge. 



The lowest shaft is the Dolores, 330 varas* deep, 

 then follow San Cyetano, 347 varas ; Santa Teresa, 

 335; Terrero, 370; Guadaloupe, 210. Santa Agatha 

 and San Francisco are the highest shafts in the series. 

 The great adit, to the level of which the water is brought 

 up by powerful steam engines from the bottom of the 

 mines, lies 242 varas below the mouth of the Terrero 

 shaft. It is throughout 2i varas high, and li wide, and 

 runs for two miles and a half with a very gentle fall, to 

 its opening in the vale of Moran below. Hitherto, steam 

 power has only been applied to the purpose here stated, 



* Vara, or Mexican yard, is two feet nine inches English. 



