Such is the imperfect idea which the first historians have transmited to us of the use made by the natives of Mexico, of gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, and of the mercury mines. I thought it necessary to enter into these details, not only to throw some light on the antient cultivation of these countries, but also to show that the European colonists in the first years which succeeded the destruction of Tenochtitlan, only followed the indications of mines given them by the natives. The kingdom of New Spain in its actual state contains nearly 500 places (reales y realitos) celebrated for the mines in their environs. More than two thirds of these places are marked in the general map of the country drawn up by me. It is probable that these 500 reales comprehend nearly three thousand mines (minas), designating by that name the whole of the subterraneous works, which communicate with one another, by which one or more metallic depositories are worked. These mines are di vided into 37 districts, over which are placed the same number of Councils of mines called Diputaciones de Mineria. We shall collect in one view the names of these Diputaciones and of the Reales de Minas, contained in the twelve Intendancies of New Spain. The materials employed for this purpose are partly taken from a manuscript memoir drawn up by the director of the superior council of mines, Don Fausto D'Elhuyar for the Count de Revillagigedo, one of the viceroys. GENERAL VIEW OF THE MINES OF NEW SPAIN. I. Intendancy of Guanaxuato. From the 20° 55′ to the 21° 30′ of north latitude, and from the 102° 30' to the 103° 45′ of west longitude. Diputaciones de Mineria, or Districts. 1. Guanaxuato. Reales, or Places surrounded with Mines: Guanaxuato; Villalpando; Monte de San Nicolas; Santa Rosa; Santa Ana; San Antonio de las Minas; Comanja; Capulin; Comanjilla; Gigante; San Luis de la Paz; San Rafael de los Lobos; Durasno; San Juan de la Chica; Rincon de Centeno; San Pedro de los Pozos Palmas de Vega; San Miguel el Grande; San Felipe. II. Intendancy of Zacatecas. From the 22° 20' to the 24° 33′ north latitude, and from the 103° 12′ to the 105° 9' of west longitude. Diputaciones de Mineria, or Districts. 2. Zacatecas. 3. Sombrerete. 4. Fresnillo. 5. Sierra de Pinos. Reales, or Places surrounded by Mines. Zacatecas; Guadalupe de Veta Grande; San Juan Bauptista de Panuco; La Blanca; Sombrerete; Madroño; San Pantaleon de la Noria ; Fresnillo ; San Demetrio de los Plateros; Cerro de Santiago; Sierra de Pinos; La Sauceda; Cerro de Santiago; Mazapil. III. Intendancy of San Luis Potosi. From the 22° 1' to the 27° 11′ of north latitude, and from the 100° 35′ to the 103° 20' of west longitude. Diputaciones de Mineria, or Districts. 7. San Luis Potosi. 8. Charcas. 9. Ojocaliente. 10. San Nicolas de Croix. Reales, or Places surrounded by Mines: La Purissima Concepcion de Alamos de Catorce; Matehuala; Cerro del Potosi; San Martin Bernalejo; Sierra Negra; Tule; San Martin; Santa Maria de las Charcas; Ramos; Ojocaliente; Cerro de San Pedro; Matanzillas; San Carlos de Vallecillo; San Antonio de la Yguana; Santiago de las Sabinas; Monterey; Jesus de Rio Blanco; Las Salinas; Bocca de Leones; San Nicolas de Croix; Borbon; San Joseph Tamaulipan; Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Sihue; La Purissima Conception de Revillagegido; El Venado; L. Tapona; Guadalcazar. IV. Intendancy of Mexico. From the 18° 10' to the 21° 30′ of north latitude, and from the 100° 12' to the 103° 25′ of west longitude. Diputaciones de Mineria, or Districts. 11. Pachuca. 12. El Doctor. 13. Zimapan. 14. Tasco. 15. Zacualpan. 16. Sultepec. 17. Temascaltepec. Reales, or places surrounded by Mines: Pachuca; Real del Monte; Moran; Atolonilco el Chico; Atolonilco el Grande; Zimapan; Lomo del Toro; Las Cañas; San Joseph del Oro; Verdozas; Capula; Santa Rosa; El Potosi; Las Plomosas; El Doctor; Las Alpujarras; El Pinal or los Amotes; Huascazoluya; San Miguel del Rio Blanco; Las Aguas; Maconi; San Christobal; Cardonal ; Xacala; Jutehitlan el Grande; San Joseph del Obraje Viejo; Cerro Blanco; Cerro del Sotolar; San Francisco Xichu; Jesus Maria de la Targea; Coronilla or la Purissima Concepcion de Tetela del Rio; Tepantitlan; San Vicente; Tasco; Tehuilotepec; Coscallan Haucingo, Huautla; Sochipala; Tetlilco; San Esteban; Real del Limon; San Geronimo; Temas caltepec; Real de Ariba; La Albarrada; Yxtapa; Ocotepec; Chalchitepeque ; Zacualpan; Tecicapan; Chontalpa; Santa Cruz de Azulaques; Saltepec; Juluapa; Papaloapa; Los Ocotes; Capulatengo; Alcozauca; Totomixtlahuaca. V. Intendancy of Guadalaxara. From the 19° 0' to the 23° 12′ of north latitude, and from the 103° 30' to the 108° 0′ of west longitude. Diputaciones de Mineria, or Districts. 18. Bolaños. 19. Asientos de Ibarra. |