CHARACTER DIVISIONS STREAMS PRODUCTIONS. 331 



This State is penetrated, from near its centre, in a north-west- 

 wardly direction by the main artery of the great Cordillera ; and 

 whilst the north-eastern section of Durango slopes gradually down- 

 ward towards the waters of the Rio Grande, its south-western part 

 lies high up among the table lands and mountain spurs that lean 

 towards Sinaloa and the Pacific coast. The climate of this moun- 

 tainous State is healthy and cool, and its agricultural productions 

 are similar to those of other Mexican States whose geological for- 

 mation resembles it. 



Durango is divided into twelve partidos or departments: — Du- 

 rango, San Juan del Rio, Nombre de Dios, San Dimas, Mesquital 

 Papasquiaro, Oro, Indee, Tamasula, Cuencame, Mapimi, and Na- 

 sas ; — comprising 38 municipalities, 4 cities, 5 towns, 54 villages, 

 52 mineral works, 48 parishes, 111 haciendas, 48 estancias, and 

 521 ranchos. The population is estimated at about 300,000. 



The chief streams and bodies of waters in the State are the Rio 

 Nasas, Rio Guanabas, Rio Florida, and the lagunes of Cayman and 

 Parras, the latter of which, though lying in Coahuila, bounds upon 

 the edge of Durango. 



The wealth of Durango exists in its minerals and in its cattle es- 

 tates. Its haciendas de cria produce immense quantities of horses, 

 mules, sheep and horned beasts which are readily sold in the va- 

 rious markets and fairs of the republic. At the hacienda of La 

 Sarca, a stock of 200,000 sheep and 40,000 mules and horses, is 

 constantly kept on hand, and at Ramos, which contains four hun- 

 dred square leagues of land, 80,000 sheep are annually fed for 

 their fleece, skins and carcasses. About 150,000 sheep are every 

 year sent from Durango to the market of Mexico alone. 



In the valley of Poanas, fifteen leagues east from the capital, 

 there are fine corn lands ; and in the deep valleys of the Sierra Ma- 

 dre even sugar is raised wherever the exposure and the moisture of 

 the situation permits the successful cultivation of cane. Indigo and 

 coffee grow wild in the warm barrancas on the genial slopes of the 

 Cordillera ; but neither of these articles is as yet cultivated by the 

 planters. Cotton is grown in the vicinity of the Rio Nasas, and 

 the town of Cinco Senores is the centre of a district covered with 

 plantations which supply most of the factories of San Luis Potosi, 

 Zacatecas and Saltillo. Mescal, a species of brandy is distilled 

 in large quantities from the maguey which grows abundantly in 

 Durango. 



The capital of the State, seat of government, and residence 

 of the bishop, is the city of Durango, sometimes known as La 



