Bisbee daily review., 1906-06-29
First Miaing Done by Euro peanS Before Conquest Documents AtteSting to An tiQuity of Rich Properties.
Moctezuma Told Cortez of Placer DiggingS in His Do- mains as Well as Valuable Mines in Nearby Territory.

A recent issue of the Monterey News contains a very interesting ac- count. closely condensed, of the an uQuity of mining in Mexico, with es- pecial reference to the chronicles Of Bernal DiaZ del Castillo, the old "Soldier-chronicler," who was with CoIteZ. and even preceded him in Mex ico, and who, in these chronicles, gives account of the first mining done by Europeans in the New World" But here is the article from the Monterey News: it is too interesting 70 omit any portion of it:
 Much is often said about the an- tiquity of mining in Mexico and refer . ence is not only made to the fact that rich mines were exploited during the days of Cortez and the first yiceroys, but to the fact also that even the races preceding the AZtecS knew of the uses of several metals and extracted them from their minerals. IL I3 not generally known. however, that Ser nal Diaz dei Castillo. the old soldier chronicler who was with CorteZ' army of conquest and even preceded CorteZ in Mexico, refers to the actual hrst mining ever done by Europeans in the new world. It was before the con quest of Mexico, and during the time when Moctezuma II. was the prisoner guest of the Spaniards in his own city.
 "A whole chapter in the Feradera Historic de Ia ConQuista de la NueTa ESpana, is devoted to a description of the interview between Corlez ana Noctezupa in which the latter di- yulged the whereabouts of the richest i,;c InT iroG well as referred to rich placers in the territories which armies had not yet subjected. Bernal Diaz was present at the interview. Cortez' interpreter, the Mahina. and the boy Geronimo de Aguilar OrteQulla were the inter- preters on that occasion. The first and richest placer was described as existing in a province call Xacatula, or Zacatula. near the southern coast and about twelve days tourney on fooL from the capital. Another was located in the province of TuXtepeC, on the north, or gulf coast and lay fully eighty leagues distant. There were two rivers in this province which yielded gold grains and the natives got the gold by means of shallow bowls or xicales. Others were located in the unCOnQuSESu ItITllOEltS Ol ILC -dPO ICcas and of the ChinanJeCas.
 CorteZ expressed a desire to send to these mines, and for that purpose MocteZuma offered some or ruc princes of his court as well as other subjects and soldiers to accompany the parties. A pilot named Gcn2alo de UmbTia and two soldiers who had done considerable mining in the old country were detailed to go to the Zacatula mines and were allowed for ty days in which to go and return. A similar party was given commission to go to the other mines in TuXtepec with the same time limit for the trip. The second party was under captain called PiZzaro. about twenty-five years of age and a much beloved friend of CorteZ-treated, according to Diaz like one of the family This is the same PiZarro who later attains renown in connection with the con quest Of Peru.
 Both parties returned with large quantities of gold and glowing de- scriptionS of the mines PizzdrO' 5 party brought back over 5000 worth of gold grains and handsome gold gifts from the princes. His party went beyond the domains of Mocte- zIma, following up the rivers and went up into the hills of the unfriend, ty territories.
 These were the first mining or pros pecting expeditions undertaken by Europeans on this continent The BaIsas or Zacatula river in the state of Guerrero in every way answers to the description by old Bernai 3iaz of the mineral region explored by Gonzalo de Umbria. The one visit by Pizzaro was undoubtedly in Oax- aco or Vera Cruz