Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/368

Pantano, Jaumave, Llera, Croix, and Güemes belonged politically to the colony of Nuevo Santander, and spiritually to the diocese of Nuevo Leon. Arias, Informe, MS., in Pinart, Col. Doc. Mex., 342. See also Estad. Hist. Ant, in Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin, 2da ep., i. .570.
The Historia, Geografia y Estadistica del Estado de Tamaulipas por el C. Ingeniero Alejandro Prieto, Mexico, 1873, 4to, pp. 5, 361, map, gives an outline of the history of Tamaulipas from the time of the conquest; the author makes an effort to prove an ancient civilization in that state, based upon some personal researches and a number of relics discovered, with a brief narrative of aboriginal traditions, habits, customs, and religion, touching also in a general way on the historical events of Texas, Nuevo Leon, and Sierra Gorda. Then follows a description of geographical conditions and political divisions, giving, based on statistics, information on the material standing of the country in regard to agriculture, commerce, industries, and general resources. This portion of the work is by far more useful than the historical division; indeed the author does not claim any credit in that direction, and we find but a confused compilation of historical data, scattered about promiscuously with an utter disregard to logical sequence, and clogged by eternal repetitions. Notwithstanding these defects, the author has undoubtedly been painstaking in his researches, both among the ancient ruins of his country, and among authorities which it might be difficult for others to obtain.