angerous were they that the only
effective means of keeping them in subjection was to hold the major part
of them continually prisoners underground in the mine, with a guard
stationed at the mouth of each shaft under orders to kill instantly any
man who attempted to come forth from the mine without authority. In
order that their labor, a thing of positive value, might not be lost
through their dying of being thus imprisoned in the bowels of the earth,
they were divided into ten great companies, each one of which, in
regular order, was employed in the surface work under the constant
supervision of a strong guard. Yet even these stern measures were not
wholly effective in preventing mutiny. Many times great revolts had
broken out here that had set all the valley in an uproar, and that had
been crashed only after pitched battles had been fought between the
rebels and the entire military force of the state. The town was a
veritable volcano, Tizoc declared; and because of the dread of it that
universally obtained, by reason of the frequent outbursts there of
lawless violence, it had received the name of Huitzilan: the Town of
War.

And there could be no doubt, he added--while the tones of his voice and
the look upon his face showed how great he believed to be the risk
involved in this line of policy--that in now directing our course
towards the mining town the deliberate purpose of the Council was to
incite these semi-savage, wholly desperate miners to join forces with us
in our rising against the Priest Captain's power.

XXV.

THE GOLD-MINERS OF HUITZILAN.

As we rounded a mountain spur that extended a long way out into the
lake, a deep bay opened to us; which bay ran close in to the cliffs
whereby the valley was surrounded, and was at no great distance from the
Barred Pass, through which we had made our entry. At the foot of the
bay, built partly upon the level land near the water-side, and partly
upon the steep ascent beyond, was the town of Huitzilan--whereof the
most curious feature that at first was noticeable was a tall chimney,
whence thick black smoke was pouring forth, that rose above a stone
building of great solidity and of a very considerable size.

On archaeological grounds, the sight of this chimney greatly astonished
me; and Rayburn, who was a very well-read man in all matters connected
with his profession, was greatly astonished by it also; for the chimney
obviously was a part of extensive redu