Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/150

136 A similar enterprise will shortly be attempted in England, by an English gentleman, (Colonel Bourne,) who has been long a resident in Mexico, in conjunction with Mr. Escalante, the representative of the state of Sŏnōră in the Senate.

They have taken up contracts for the mines of Ărīzpĕ, (about 36° north latitude,) in a situation possessing great local advantages, a fertile country, the vicinity of two large rivers, and a communication by water with the Pacific. The mines themselves were formerly celebrated for their riches, and the capital required to bring them again into activity is very small.

The specimens which I have seen of the ores extracted from them, almost induce one to adopt the theory, that the proportion of silver contained in the ores increases as you advance towards the North; a theory which is very generally believed, at present, in Mexico, and which is certainly confirmed by the superiority of all the Northern ores to those of the richest districts in the South.

The idea probably originated in the discovery of the famous Bolas de Plata, (Balls of Silver,) of Arizona, in the beginning of the last century, which was, and probably still is, believed in Europe to be one of those fables, with which mining countries always abound.

But the attention of the present Government of Mexico having been drawn to the subject, a search was made in the Vice-regal Archives, by order of