There is an old church, but at present no independent Indians live in Guachochic; the aborigines found about the place are servants of the Mexicans.
Guachochic lies at an elevation of 7,775 feet and at the southern end of a mesa, the largest one in the Sierra Madre del Norte, being twelve miles long and three miles wide.

Except on the southern end this plateau is bordered with stately pine forests.

Many Indians live on the mesa and in the numerous valleys adjoining it, but they are all "civilised"; that is, contaminated with many Mexico-Christian notions, and have lost their pristine simplicity.
I had a letter of introduction to the principal personage in Guachochic, Don Miguel, who enjoys the rare reputation of being just and helpful toward the Indians; and, being a large land-owner, he is a man of considerable influence also with his fellow-countrymen.

To those in need he lends money on liberal terms out of the pile of silver dollars buried under the floor of his house.

Robbers know from sad experience that he is not to be trifled with.