A MINING ESTABLISHMENT. 



345 



mining. It was in a large clearing, and a fine situation, 

 and its cleanliness, neatness, and good fences showed 

 that the Welshman had not forgotten what he had 

 learned at home. 



We crossed the river Surubris and the Rio Grande 

 or Machuca, and reached the hacienda of San Mateo, 

 situated in the Boca of the mountain of Aguacate, and 

 from this place we began to ascend. The road had 

 been much improved lately, but the ascent was steep, 

 wild, and rugged. As we toiled up the ravine, we 

 heard before us a loud noise, that sounded like distant 

 thunder, but regular and continued, and becoming loud- 

 er as we advanced ; and at length we came out on a 

 small clearing, and saw on the side of the mountain a 

 neat frame building of two stories, with a light and 

 graceful balcony in front ; and alongside was the thun- 

 dering machine which had startled us by its noise. 

 Strangers from the other side of the Atlantic were pier- 

 cing the sides of the mountain, and pounding its stones 

 into dust to search for gold. The whole range, the 

 very ground which our horses spurned with their hoofs, 

 contained that treasure for which man forsakes kindred 

 and country. 



I rode up to the house and introduced myself to Don 

 Juan Bardh, the superintendent, a German from Fries- 

 burg. It was about two o'clock, and excessively hot. 

 The house was furnished with chairs, sofa, and books, 

 and had in my eyes a delightful appearance ; but the 

 view without was more so. The stream which turned 

 the immense pounding-machine had made the spot, from 

 time immemorial, a descansadera, or resting-place for 

 muleteers. All around were mountains, and directly 

 in front one rose to a great height, receding, and cov- 

 ered to the top with trees. 



Vol. I.— X X 



