The marvellous country, or, Three years in Arizona and New Mexico.: Containing an authentic history of this wonderful country and its ancient civilization ... together with a full and complete history of the Apache tribe of Indians .../ By Samuel Woodworth Cozzens. Illustrated by more than one hundred engravings.

PLENTIFULNESS OF GOLD.
Numerous attempts have been made to penetrate this
wonderful region since Aubrey's visit there, but not one of
them has ever been successful. The explorers have either
been obliged to return after enduring almost incredible
hardships, or have perished by the hands of the Apaches.
I have myself seen pieces of gold in the possession of
Apaches, weighing nearly half a pound, which they made but
little account of, being ready to exchange it for any trifle
that struck their fancy; and without doubt, if this portion of
country could be explored, gold would be found to exist in
as great abundance as it did in California in'49. The
entire region north of the Gila, and east of the Rio Verde,
must be full of silver and gold. We know that veins of
silver have been found in the vicinity of Forts Yuma and
Mojave that have yielded immensely, and that protection is
the only thing needed to develop them into mines of great
value. There are always adventurers in any new country
ready to take their "lives in their hands," if they can have
some show,- at least five or ten chances in a hundred; but
with the condition of affairs that have existed in Arizona
for the past ten years, their chances would scarcely be one
in a hundred.
Gold was discovered on the Gila only the year before our
visit there, and in less than a month Gila City was born,
with a population of a thousand persons. It didn't pay,
though. Water was scarce, and the dirt to be washed had
202