Sonora, naturally one of the richest provinces of Mexico, is also one of
the least known. Vast tracts in this State have never been explored;
and others have been seen only by the passing traveller. Nevertheless,
Nature has been especially bountiful to this remote territory. In some
parts of it the soil, scarce scratched by the plough, will yield two
crops in the year; while in other places gold is scattered over the
surface, or mixed with the sands, in such quantity as to rival the
_placers_ of California.
It is true that these advantages are, to some extent neutralised by
certain inconveniences. Vast deserts extend between the tracts of
fertile soil, which render travelling from one to the other both
difficult and dangerous; and, in many parts, of the province the savage
aborigines of the country are still masters of the ground. This is
especially the case in those districts where the gold is found in
_placers_.
Those placers are not to be approached by white men, unless when in
strong force. The Indians repel all such advances with warlike fury.
Not that they care to protect the gold--of whose value they have been
hitherto ignorant--but simply from their hereditary hatred of the white
race. Nevertheless, attempts are frequently made to reach the desired
gold fields. Some that result in complete failure, and some that are
more or less successful.
The natural riches of Sonora have given rise to very considerable
fortunes, and not a few very large ones, of which the origin was the
finding a "nugget" of virgin gold; while others again had for their
basis the cultivation of the rich crops which the fertile soil of Sonora
can produce.
There is a class of persons in Sonora, who follow no other business than
searching for gold _placers_ 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 Spaniard who had arrived in Sonora but two
months before, and who was known by the name, Don Estevan de Arechiza.
No one in Arispe remembered ever to have seen him; and yet he appeared
to have been in the country before this time. His knowledge of its
topography, as well as its affairs and political personages, was so
positive and complete, as to make it evident that Sonora was no stranger
to him; and the plan of his expedition appeared to have been conceived
and arranged beforehand--even previous to his arrival from Europe.
Beyond doubt, Don Estevan was master of considerable resources. He had
his train of paid followers, kept open house, made large bets at the
_monte_ tables, lent money to friends without appearing to care whether
it should ever be returned, and played "grand Seigneur" to perfection.