OF NEW ALMADEN. 67 
I took several sketches of the village of New Al- 
maden, as well as of the exterior of the mine, and the 
picturesque scenery in the vicinity. The company 
possess a large tract of land here, including mountain, 
hill, and valley. Much of it is well timbered. A fine 
stream of water runs directly through the village; and 
on its very margin is a natural soda spring, which may 
yet make this spot doubly attractive. 
This mine was long known to the Indians, who 
resorted hither for the vermillion which they could col- 
lect from the cinnabar. They had dug some thirty or 
forty feet into the mountain; but it does not appear 
ever to have been worked by the Spaniards. In recent 
times, its commercial value was first discovered by 
Sefior. Castillero, who became its legal owner. Don 
José Castro, who subsequently became proprietor of 
it, sold out his interest to Barron & Forbes, an Eng- 
lish house doing business in Mexico. Another partner 
is Mr. Walkinshaw, an English gentleman long resident 
in Mexico, and well skilled in mining. This gentle- 
man now resides about a mile from New Almaden, on 
one of the natural parks which I have before described, 
and which he is rendering still more beautiful by the 
introduction of fruit-trees, vines, flowering shrubs, ete. 
To this gentleman, to Mr. Young, the superintendent, 
and Mr. Bester, the engineer, I feel under many obli- 
gations for the civilities extended to me and the gen- 
tlemen who were with me, in our visit to New Alma- 
den and its mine. After a sumptuous dinner, we took 
the stage and returned to San José. 
April 6th. In coming to San José, I had the double 
object in view of visiting the quicksilver mine, and of 
