HIVERS LAKES INDIANS DIVISIONS. 



335 



Seventeen rivers and streams flow through the territory of this 

 State. The Rio Bravo, or Rio Grande del Norte ; the Rio Con- 

 chas ; Florida ; Chihuahua ; Tonachi ; Llanos ; Casas Grandes ; 

 San Buenaventura ; Carmen ; Santa Isabel ; Pasesiochi ; Mulatos ; 

 Chinapas ; Parral ; San Pedro ; Batopilas ; and Rio Grande de 

 Bavispe. The lakes or lagunes are those of San Martin ; Guzman ; 

 Patos, or Candelaria ; Encinillas ; and Castilla. The river Nasas, 

 which rises in Durango debouches in the Lake of Cayman, in the 

 Bolson de Mapimi. The climate resembles that of the adjoining 

 State of Durango. In the year 1834, the population, according to 

 official statistics was 145,182; at present, it is estimated at from 

 150,000 to 160,000, which number would give about 1.3 for each 

 English square mile. This is probably the actual number of inhabi- 

 tants within the State, exclusive of Indians and some wild dwellers 

 among the mountains who were not comprised in the census of 

 1833. Large numbers of aborigines occupy the lonelier portions 

 of Chihuahua. Tribes of Tepehuanes, Llanos, Acotlames, Coco- 

 yames and a few remnants of the Aztecs are found within its bor- 

 ders. In the Bolson de Mapimi, and on the borders of the moun- 

 tain ranges of the Chanate, El Diabolo Puerco, and Pilares, swarm 

 numbers of the Apaches Mescaleros and Farones, who are often en- 

 gaged in war with the savage and robber tribes of Cumanches, 

 whose constant inroads into the Mexican territory are a source of 

 incessant annoyance and insecurity to the people of the frontier. In 

 the ravines and valleys of the Sierra de los Mimbres, in the north- 

 west of the State, the Apache Mimbrenos are found, while further 

 south, in the wild and deep dells of Tararecua and Santa Sinforosa 

 various bands of the Tarahuamares still pursue their hunter-life in 

 perfect freedom. 



There is some doubt, in consequence of the conflict of authorities, 

 as to the divisions of the State of Chihuahua. According to the 

 Noticias Estadisticas of Senor Escudero, published in 1834, it was 

 composed of four districts : Chihuahua, Hidalgo, Paso del Norte, 

 and Guadalupe y Calvo, — in the first of which are the partidos of 

 Aldama, Cosihuiriachi, Papigochi, and Jesus Maria de Rosales ; — 

 in the second, the partidos of Allende and Jimenez ; — in the third, 

 the partidos of Galeanas and Janos ; — and in the fourth, those of 

 Batopilas and Balleza or Tepehuanes. According to an article pub- 

 lished by the same writer in the fourth volume of the Museo Mexi- 

 cano, in 1844, he apparently entertains the opinion that the same 

 divisions still continue ; but, if the authority of another and very 

 positive correspondent of the same work is to be relied on in refer- 



