The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-01
GOLD MlNIN6 IN THE WEST
CHESTER L. MARTIN SPENDS A FEW
DAYS IN THE CITY.
He relIs of a Trip Into the Gold Belt
OF Mexico That Was Fraught
with Experiences.

r OF a lOnS tlIne many AftfltdHS
ested in gold mining have looked with
longing eyes toward the Sierra de Nayarat,
a range of mountains in the territory of
Tepic, on the west coast of Mexico, where
rich deposits of the glittering mineral are
known to exist. Chester l.. Martin.
Canadian, living near Montreal, and who
has relatives in this city, was in lndianap-
oils for few days last week, stopping
over this city for brief visit while
journeying to his home from a two
months trip to Mexico, and he had some
interesting stories to tell to his friends
here regarding the mysterious Businesses.
which, with their semi-barbaric inhabi-
tants have long baffied the attempts OF
prospectors to unravel their golden mys-
terry.
Mr.. Martin is of the few Americans
who have penetrated part of the way into
the Mexican Ell Dorado. He says that the
gold belt lies in the heart ef the Sierra de
Nayarat, which is a rugged and almost
impenetrable range of mountains about
hundred miles north of the road TO San
Bias. and about a three days journey on
horseback from that city. There is also
another range called the Alica which runs
parallel with the Nayarat, and which is
inhabited and guarded by very warlike
race of Indians, who are thought TO be
direct descendants of an ancient Aztec
tribe. Mr.. Martin determined to visit this
wild country, although very few white
men had ever made the trip before. and.
securing a native guide and several ad-
venturous companions in Tepic, he set out
on what proved to be very perilous jour-
he he
trance to the canyon, in and about which
are situated all of the settlements of the
mysterious people of the region. Long be-
fore reaching the outer boundary of Alica
the party passed through a land OF verdure
rich in all kinds Of tropical and semi
tropical vegetation. This land does not be-
long to the Indians, but, notwithstanding
its fertility, no one dares to encroach upon
it through fear of the fierce natives who
claim 1t for their own.
IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE
The rest Of Mr.. Martins experience Is
best told in his own language. After we
had passed over the last range Of the noun
tains," he said 1--WE had our first glimpse
of the entrance to the beautiful valley. 1t
is q narrow pass between two cliffs which
rise almost perpendicularly to height of
about 5000 feet, and is natural wonder
that you will hear a great deal more about
in years to come. The view of the valley
proper is partly shut off by mountain
wall running at right angles to the pass.
From the top Of the mountain we sent an
interpreter to notify the chief of the first
village beyond of our coming, while we
followed after pretty cautiously / can tell
you. 1t was after dark when neared
the entrance to the settlement We were
met by a chief and crowd of natives at
tired in what l think must have been gala
dress. They extended quite a hearty greet
ing. The strange people were not at all as
savage as we had expected to find them.
All the natives except the chief wore CO.'S
tunes made of birds feathers, and they
presented an interesting sight.
Early the next morning we started for
the main city, which is a town of about
5000 inhabitants, and we reached it the fol-
lowing day at about noon. We found the
country between to be under a rather sur
prising state of cultivation, corn. vegeta-
bles and several kinds of fruit being raised
in abundance. The houses of the natives
along our route were very comfortable ap-
pearing adobe structures erected in much
more substantial style than those adobe
huts that you will see in New Mexico and
Arizona, and the people seemed to be well
supplied with cattle and tame deer. The
natives are all straight featured, with long
rather than oval faces. They are very quick
and energetic in their movements and WON
derf lilly expert in handling their bows and
arrows, which they usually carry with
them. They are very fond of ornaments
in the shape Of beads, bits of gold quartz
and pieces of glass, and we made a good
many stanch friends among them by sup
plying them with trivial articles such as
these, with which they at once proceeded to
decorate themselves.
During our journey we scanned the sur
rounding country eagerly for evidences Of
mineral wealth, and it was not very long
until we were convinced that there was
plenty of gold in these mountains. The
valley is so narrow that we could with lit
tie difficulty scrutinize the mountains on
both sides, and along towards the middle
Of the day We began to catch glimpses of
old tunnels and the openings of abandoned
mining shafts. On nearing a projecting
spur we saw what appeared to be mineral
vein, and when we came up to it we could
plainly see fine streak of gold quartz run
ming through the rocks. We broke off a
niece and later on I had II aesavad iy, fho