FAMINE MINES AT BOLANOS HORCASITAS. 237 



far beyond Gaudalajara, was violently shaken and rent, causing the 

 death of many persons and the ruin of large and valuable villages. 



In 1750, Mexico was still free from scarcity, and even able, not 

 only to support its own population, but to feed the numerous 

 strangers who fled to it from the unfruitful districts. Yet, in the 

 cities and villages of the north and west, where the crops had been 

 again lost, want and famine prevailed as in the previous year. 

 From Guanajuato, a city rich in mines, to Zacatecas, the scarcity 

 of food was excessive, and the enormous sum of twenty-five dollars 

 was demanded and paid for a fanega of corn. Neither man nor 

 beast had wherewith to support life, and, for a while, the labors 

 in the mines of this rich region were suspended. The unfortunate 

 people left their towns in crowds to subsist on roots and berries 

 which they found in the forests. Many of them removed to other 

 parts of the country, and, as it was at this period that the rich 

 veins of silver at Bolanos were discovered, some of the poor emi- 

 grants found work and food in a district whose sudden mineral 

 importance induced the merchants to supply it liberally with pro- 

 visions. The end of the year, however, was fortunately crowned 

 with abundant crops. 



In 1755, — after founding the Presidio of Horcasitas, in Sonora, 

 designed to restrain the incursions of the Apaches into that pro- 

 vince, — the Count Revilla-Gigedo, was recalled, at his own re- 

 quest, from the Mexican viceroyalty in order that he might devote 

 himself to the management of his private property, which had 

 increased enormously, during his government. In the history of 

 Mexican viceroys, this nobleman is celebrated as a speculative and 

 industrious trader. There was no kind of commercial enterprise 

 or profitable traffic in which he did not personally engage. His 

 palace degenerated into an exchange, frequented by all kinds of 

 adventurers, while gaming tables were openly spread out to catch 

 the doubloons of the viceroyal courtiers. The speculations and 

 profits of Revilla-Gigedo enabled him to found Mayorazgos for his 

 sons in Spain, and he was regarded, throughout Europe, as the 

 richest vassal of Ferdinand the VI. His son, who subsequently 

 became a Mexican viceroy, and was the second bearing the family 

 title, labored to blot out the stain which the trading propensities of 

 his father had cast upon his name. He was a model of pro- 

 priety in every respect ; but, whilst he made no open display of 

 anxiety to enrich himself corruptly through official influence or 

 position, he, nevertheless, exhibited the avaricious traits of his 



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