Chap. XI. VILLA DE LA CONCEPOION. 377 
the limits of which enclose a very beautiful territory, and 
through the village of San Antonio — where the valley 
becomes safer, and we saw the first herds grazing in the 
meadows — we arrived the following day at the Villa de 
la Conception, the most important place in the western 
portion of the State of Chihuahua. The Indian name of 
this small town, Papigochic, belongs to the Tarumare 
language, and means "Snipe town." The brook we had 
passed unites here with a considerable mountain-stream 
flowing from a lateral valley of the Sierra Madre. Thus 
augmented and continuing in a north-westerly direction, the 
Rio de Papigochic passes the villages of Santo Tomas, Tejo- 
logachic, Matachic, and Temosachic, and, between this last 
and Yepomera, breaks with a sudden turn to the west, 
through the Sierra Madre. 
This elevated valley forms the richest portion of the 
state of Chihuahua, and is looked upon as its granary. 
When there is drought on lower ground, rain never fails 
here, nor water in the rivers, for irrigation. The scenery 
is beautiful and the climate perfect. Snow and ice are 
not unknown in winter, but the cold is never severe ; and 
the heat in summer is not oppressive. The region is cele- 
brated for its excellent apples, which are sent as far as 
Sonora. A mule's load of this fruit, worth here 3 dollars, 
would be sold at Guymas for 40. Oranges are purchased 
in exchange for them. The celebrated mines of Jesus 
Maria, in the Sierra Madre, close to the frontier of 
Sonora, lie within a few days' journey from Conception, 
or the Villa, as it is here called, and are supplied with 
wheat, maize, &c, from hence. These mines, now greatly 
neglected, made the town of Conception formerly an im- 
portant place, and even now it contains much wealth. 
The merchants of Chihuahua still consider its inhabitants 
