The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-15
For The Southern Press.
The California Mines.
EARLY KNOWN.

| at'' vu0 CdluOIuid IAluco.
EARLY KNOWN.
i @ Robertson's ssHstory Of Americas" though q
| work Of great merit, and one Of high authority,
has fallen into neglect, and is but little read
owing to more correct information respecting the
different countries Of the continent which he de-
scribes, which has been obtained and published
since his time. Hence it seems not 70 be known,
| that he mentions the abundance OF gold existing
/ in California, Cinaloa, and Sonora, and predicts
/ that those countries would in consequence Of this
atracton, or their richness in mineral wealth, be
soon resorted to in crowds, and densely popu-
lated. He observes, in relation 10 these countries,
that 'the jurisdiction of the VIceroy OF New
Spain, extends over several provinces, which
/ were not subject to the dominion of the Alexicans.
The countries Of Cinaloa and Sonora, that stretch
along the east side Of the VermilIion sea, Gulf
of California, as well as the immense Kingdoms of
New Navarro and New Mexico, which bend to-
wards the west and north, did not acknowledge
the sovereignty Of Montezuima, or his prede es-
sors. - y The number Of Spaniards settled in
those vast countries, is yet extremely small. !"
! One circumstance, however, may contribute to the
speedy population of some districts. Very rich
mines, both Of gold and silver, have been discov-
cred in many of the regions which have men
| toned" He then goes on to state, that in 1765,
the incursions of the savages bordering on these
thinly settled regions, became SO frequent, daring
and destructive, tina, the Mexican government sent
4 out military expedition against them, which at
length succeeded in reducing them to submission.
Sin the COURSE" he says, "of this service, the
/ Spaniards marched through countries into which
they seem not to have penetrated before that time,
and discovered mines Of such value, AS was as
tonishing, even To men acquainted with the riches
contained in the mountains of the New World
/ AT Cinegulla, in the province Of Sonora, they en-
| tered plain of fourteen leagues in extent, in
which, at the depth ofonly fourteen inches, they
found gold in grains of such size, that some Of
them weighed nine marks, and in such quantities,
that in hort time, with few aborers, they col
ected a thousand marks of gold IN grains, even
without taking time to wash the earth that had
been dug, which appeared to be so rich, that per-
sons of skill computed that it might yield what
would be equal in value to a million OF Pesos. .
As several other mfes, not inferior in rlchness to
| that Of Cneguilla, have been discovered, both in
Sonora and Cinaos, il is probable that these re-
elected and thinly inhabited provinces, may soon
Ebecome as populous and valuable as any part Of
The Spanish empire, in America" ' !. He states
in note to the above, that she derived these par
tculars from .Notica Brepe or history Of the mill
tary expedition against the Indians, which led to
| the discovery Of these mines, which was published
IN Mexico, June Hth It'll, in order to satisfy the
curiosity Of the merchants, who had furnished the
Viceroy with money for defraying the expenses
of the armament. The copies Of this .Natcia are
very rare in Madrid but / have obtained one,
which has enabled Inc to communicate these Curl
Gus facts to the public According 70 this ac-
y
Cinaoa, grain of gold of twenty-five cafats,
which weighed seventeen marks, four ounces,
| four ochavas. This was sent to Spain as Il pre-
sent for the King, and is now deposited in the
Royal Cabiret, at Madrid" In speaking Of the
peninsula Of California, he states that i'the Jes-
ui,s, who had great merit in exploring this
elected province, and civilizng its rude inhabi-
! tants, impercepnhIy acquired dominion over il,
az complete that which they possessed IN their
missions in Paraguay. In order to prevent the
| roirt of Spain from conceiving any jeaouslyf Of
their designs and operations, they seem studieus-
w To have deprecated the country, by represent
ing the climate as so disagreeable and unwhole-
some, and the soil SD barren, that nothing but
a Jealous desire Of converting the natives, could
have induced them to settle there. Several pub
tic spirited citizens endeavored to undeceiye their
soveregns, and TO give them better view ofCal-
ifornia but in VAIN Atlength, on the expulsion
of the Jesuits from the Spanish dosninions, the
court Of Madrid, prone at that iucture To sus-
pect the purity Of the order intentions, former
ly to confde in them with implicit trust, appointed
Don Joseph GaveZ, whose abilities have since
raised him. to the high rank Of Minister for the
fndies to visit that peninsula. His account of the
country was favorable he found the pearl fishery
on its coasts to be valuable, and he discovered mines
efgoid, efa gsry promising ap p CO.. s
! 1t would appear from the foregoing account that
two principal causes contributed to throw Caiifor-
a, and the adjoining provinces Of Cinaloa and So
nora, back into the obscurity from which they thus
at one time partially emerged and to occasion even
their riches aud unrivalled mines, to be neglected
and almost wholly forgotten These were first
the number and warlike character Of the Indian
tribes to whose inroads they were exposed, and
the consequent difficulty on the part Of Spain and
Mexico, to defend so. vast and rerI ote frontier
Next, the misrepresentation Of the Jesuits, who
were among their first civilized settlers; and whose
accounts, from the high religious character which
thew that time bore received authentic