320 CAVE AND CLIFF DWELLERS. 
which subsequently extended far into the 
interior, led to the progress of the 
“ adelantados” further north, and inspired 
the expedition into the Sierra Madres 
which gave rise to the discovery of Ba- 
topilas. Tradition has it that upon their 
descent to the river bottom the “adelan 
tados” were struck by the luminous ap¬ 
pearance of the rocks, which were cov¬ 
ered in many parts by snowy flakes of 
native silver. Hence the name “ Ne¬ 
vada,” signifying “ a fall of snow,” which 
was applied to the first mine worked in 
the district. The news of the discovery 
spread far and wide, and, as the evidence 
of its great richness multiplied, it soon 
became one of the most famous mines of 
New Spain. The first miners of the new 
discovery made a magnificent present to 
the viceroy, composed entirely of large 
