_ or silver mines, and whose only knowledge
consists of a little practical acquaintance with metallurgy. These men
are called _gambusinos_. From time to time they make long excursions
into the uninhabited portions of the State; where, under great
privations, and exposed to a thousand dangers, they hastily and very
superficially work some vein of silver, or wash the auriferous sands of
some desert-stream, until, tracked and pursued by the Indians, they are
compelled to return to their villages. Here they find an audience
delighted to listen to their adventures, and to believe the exaggerated
accounts which they are certain to give of marvellous treasures lying
upon the surface of, the ground, but not to be approached on account of
some great danger, Indian or otherwise, by which they are guarded.

These _gambusinos_ are to mining industry, what the backwoodsmen are to
agriculture and commerce. They are its pioneers. Avarice stimulated by
their wonderful stories, and often too by the sight of real treasure
brought in from the desert--for the expeditions of the _gambusinos_ do
not always prove failures--avarice thus tempted, is ready to listen to
the voice of some adventurous leader, who preaches a crusade of conquest
and exploration. In Sonora, as elsewhere, there are always an abundance
of idle men to form the material of an expedition--the sons of ruined
families--men who dislike hard work, or indeed any work--and others who
have somehow got outside the pale of justice. These join the leader and
an expedition is organised.

In general, however, enterprises of this kind are too lightly entered
upon, as well as too loosely conducted; and the usual consequence is,
that before accomplishing its object the band falls to pieces; many
become victims to hunger, thirst, or Indian hostility; and of those who
went forth only a few individuals return to tell the tale of suffering
and disaster.

This example will, for a while, damp the ardour for such pursuits. But
the disaster is soon forgotten; fresh stories of the _gambusinos_
produce new dreams of wealth; and another band of adventurers is easily
collected.

At the time of which I am writing--that is, in 1830--just twenty-two
years after the tragedy of Elanchovi, one of these expeditions was being
organised at Arispe--then the capital of the State of Sonora. The man
who was to be the leader of the expedition was not a native of Mexico,
but a stranger. He was a Span