Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/512

 472 MEXICO. have stated with regard to the towns, by leading us nearly to the same result. The family of Regla, which now pos- sesses landed property to an immense extent in various parts of the country, purchased the whole of it with the proceeds of the mines of Real del Monte. The Fagoagas owe their present importance to the great Bonanza of the Pavell5n at Sombrerete. The estates of the family of Vibanco pro- ceeded from the mines of Bolanos. The houses of Valen- ciana, Ruhl, Perez Galvez, and 6ter6, are all indebted for their possessions to the mines of Valenciana and ViUalpando, at Guanajuato. The family of Sardaneta (Los Marqueses de Rayas,) takes its rise from the mine of that name. Cata and Mellado gave to their first proprietor (Don Francisco Matias de Busto) the Marquisate of San Clemente, with im- mense wealth, a part of which has been transmitted to his descendants. The Canada of Laborde, at Tlalpujahua, with the mines of Quebradilla and San Acasio, at Zacatecas, all contributed towards the three fortunes of Laborde. The family of the obreg5nes owes its beautiful estates, (near Leon,) to the mines of La Purisima, and Concepcion, at Ca- torce ; as does the family of Gordoa, the estate of Malpasso to the mine of La Luz. The son of Zambrano, (the dis- coverer of Guarisamey,) wasted as his rightful property has been, is still in possession of four of the largest estates in Diirango ; and Batopilas gave to the Marquis of Biistamante, both the means of purchasing his title, for which he paid by a loan of 300,000 dollars, (60,000/.) to the Royal Treasury, during the Revolution, and the affluence which he is now enjoying in the Peninsula. The above is a most imperfect sketch of the origin of the fortunes of the leading families in Mexico. With some few exceptions, such as the Conde de Agreda, whose fortune was made by trade, the descendants of Cortes, who received a Royal grant of the Valley of Oaxaca, (the value of which is now much reduced by the abolition of the Indian Capitation