Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/446

430 : from the moment that you quit Guanajuato, all traces of its vicinity are lost, and you traverse ravines as wild as those of Zĭmăpān or Zitācŭarŏ, with as little to remind you of the neighbourhood of man. There is not a tree to be seen in the whole four leagues, and many of the ascents are so steep that we were glad to be provided with animals accustomed to face them, instead of trusting to our own. Mrs. Ward was mounted on a magnificent mule, and I was provided with a horse, which Mr. Williamson had the kindness to make over to me afterwards, and which I found at once the most useful and the most dangerous creature that I almost ever possessed. I never saw it tired, but even when ridden with the utmost gentleness, it was difficult to keep it quiet, and if once put out of temper, there was no remedy but giving it up altogether for twenty-four hours.

Tuesday, Nov. 14.—We visited the mine of Sĭrēnă, in which the Anglo-Mexican Company holds ten Barras in perpetuity, and had acquired four more for twelve years, by an additional advance of 100,000 dollars. The mine had been nearly drained by Mălăcātĕs in six months, and from the levels already above water at the time of my visit, ores were raised in sufficient quantities to cover the expences, and to leave a surplus of from 1,000 to 1,400 dollars weekly. Sirena lies about a league from Guănăjūātŏ: the road out, which has been repaired by the Company, is good; and the mine