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392 its vicinity, abundant cause to admire the diligence which had been displayed. A number of additional mines had been brought into activity, in order to explore the veins upon the greatest possible number of points at once; and on the lode of Las Virgenes, an entirely new shaft, called the mine of Arevalo, from its proprietor, the Cura, had been sunk, the ores of which appeared to be very promising. In the town, improvements were proceeding with equal rapidity, and the market was thronged with well-dressed natives; many of whom, a few months before, had no other attire than a Queretaro blanket of the commonest kind.

From Tlalpujahua I returned to the capital, by the Rancho del Oro, which is situated just within the confines of the State of Mexico. The United Mexican Company s in possession of nineteen Mines there, the former produce of which is known to have been very considerable. Nine of these Mines are situated upon the Veta Descubridora, and may be considered as one work; five other shafts are sunk upon the lodes of San Rafael and San Acasio.

The state of the whole, at the period of my visit, afforded a striking exemplification of the evils with