1893 
Tula 
(Hidalgo) 
Paehuea 
(Hidalgo) 
upper part of the Lower Sonoran Zone at about 6,400 feet, A few 
large cypresses grow along the small stream here, but the surrounding 
low hills are covered with cacti, acacias, pepper trees, and other 
desert species, Found little of interest. 
The low bluff facing the town just east of the river here is crown¬ 
ed by the ruins of old mud and stone walled houses and buildings of the 
ancient town of the Indians where the legend says the first use of 
pulque was discovered and introduced,- a day of poor promise for the 
people, 
March 13tht 8,200 feet. Today proceeded on to Paohuoa the present 
capital of Hidalgo, This is the busiest town I have seen in the country. 
In the bare porphyritic hills back of the town are numerous rich silver 
mines which have yielded hundreds of millions of dollars and still pro¬ 
duce a great amount of silver, The hill slopes are dotted with the high- 
walled, castle-like mining buildings over the shafts and in the town 
are several very extensive yards for treating the ore by the patio 
process. From the hillside one can look down into these works and see 
the horses being driven slowly around and around in the fine mud to 
which the ore is reduced. All white horses are stained a bright green 
up to the flanks from the sulphate of copper used in the process, and 
present an absurd spectacle* Long paok trains of mules loaded with ore 
in sacks for the works or returning to the mines join with heavy wagons 
drawn by long trains of mules or horses 4 abreast and hundreds of women 
and men hurrying along on one errand or another to make a sufficiently 
busy spectacle to be very interesting after passing through so many 
deadly sleepy towns. 
After a few days about this place, I made a trip by the stage up 
to the neighboring mining town of Real del Monte,- 3 miles to the east 
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