Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/465

Rh looked up to and respected by the natives, and indefatigable in his efforts to promote the interests of those, by whom he has been entrusted with the conduct of an enterprise of greater magnitude than any in which British Capital has been employed hitherto beyond the limits of the British dominions.

Both Mr. Williamson and Mr. Jones do justice to the liberality and good faith displayed by the Mexican proprietors in all their transactions with the Company. The accounts of each mine are balanced and finally wound up at the end of every year; and nothing has yet occurred to interrupt this good understanding, by which the interests of both parties are so effectually promoted.

17th and 18th of November. I passed both these days in visiting the mines worked by the United Mexican Company at Guanajuato, the most important of which are Rāyăs, Sĕchō, and Cātă.

The first of these "San Juan de Rāyăs," (so called from its original proprietor,) is one of the most valuable mines upon the Veta Madre; and the most ancient document in the archives of Guanajuato is the certificate of its denunciation. It is situated in one of those Cañadas, or ravines, in which the great riches of the vein have been usually found concentrated, immediately below the mines of Santa Anita, and San Vicente, both of which are prevented from pushing their works downward by levels extending from the mine of Rayas below the whole of their "Pertinencias," as marked out upon the surface.