Chap. XL THE TARUMABE INDIANS. 379 
held the unusual quantity of 40 ounces ; so that a mule's 
load of the ore was worth 400 dollars. Even now, 
although the mines are no longer worked, the town is 
supported by the results of the unskilled labour of nume- 
rous " gambusinos," who, having money advanced to 
them by capitalists, are bound to sell them the ore they 
raise, monthly, at a rate of 16 per cent, lower than that 
of the mint at Chihuahua. One man, who employed 
20,000 dollars in this kind of speculation, doubled it in 
a year. But though the mint at Chihuahua pays 16 per 
cent, more than the miner gets for his ore, it gives full 
20 per cent, less than its real value. It is easy, therefore, to 
see of what extraordinary results these mines are capable. 
We found a most hospitable and friendly reception in 
the house of one of the first men in the Villa de la Con- 
cepcion. Don Kafael, having remarked my desire to learn 
something of the Tarumare Indians, communicated several 
facts, which, connected with the results of other inquiries, 
appear to me worthy of being better known than I have 
reason to believe they are. 
First, I must premise that all civilized Indians in the 
State of Chihuahua are called Tarumares, although they 
are not all of the same race. The greater number of 
them, however, have one origin, and speak a common 
language, the grammar of which is well known, as a 
treatise on it, published in Mexico, still exists in print. 
Whether the language of the so-called Tarumares, who 
are not of the real tribe, though differing may have some 
affinity with the real Tarumare language, I cannot say. 
Here I speak of the genuine Tarumares. 
These Indians form a portion of the population of the 
Villa de la Concepcion, and of all the other communities 
in the valley; and all these places have the rights of 
