Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-21
THE SOUTH AMERICAN GOLD REGIONS. &c.

We copy from the London Athenaum me SUD
Joined summary of paper read by Dr. JULIEN
ON the Gold mines of Darien, emigration to Neu
Grenada, and caaalization of the Isfhmus q
Darien
|. The Isthmus is territory of the Republic OF New
Grenada its most important part and that which appears
naturally best adapted for communication between Inc Aan
tic and the Pacific lies between the Gulf OF Daren and the
uf of San Miguel Numerous rivers flow into the bay Of
Panama on one side and the Ishmus the other the
principal stream the river Sana Maria forty miles long,
and falling into the gulf of San Miguel unobsucted by sand
banks bars few estates are sun occupied y ne span
ish but most of the old towns and villages and forts have
been long since deserted About eight miles up the nver
Santa Maria Cor Tuyra) is the village Of ChaPgsna with
conegor and about hundred inhabitants mostly Sam
Dos and negroes Mr. Hosack, Scot and Don repe' ror-
tueuese are settled here. few miles above this vsge
gold occurs abundan and about thirty miles above IS the
town of Yav the capital Of the Territory. and the resi-
dence of the Project Don Antonio Baraya The population
scarcely hundred ard the large fort IN good eoDd
ton but gsrsoned The largest vessels can ascend
nearly to the Chuquanaqua branch Of the river Tuyra,
few miles below avsa and up TO which the tide extends
This country has been the Of successful gold mining
under the Spanad and Of much buccaneerng and futile
attempts at colonization the part of the British from the
days of Sir Francis Drake and Basil Rngrose (l6s0( to
Macgsgo sl9) In the archives OF the treasury OF Pa
account Ct former mining operations at the Nina
Real the river Cana, source Of the Tuyra IN the
Cerro del Espu Sano. The royal quino, or ve per cent
millions Of dollars per annum, which would give seventy
millions for the whole produce. The mining was performed
by negroes never than three four hundred who
hewed the rock ground in mortas by means OF oIen
and washed il by stream Of water whilst grinding. The
mines were closed in by command Of the King Of Spain,
although in full operation at the ime account OF the nu-
ncuons Of the buccaneers They have never been
reopened and the neghborng mountains, though nch IN
gold have never been worked Dr. Cullen found the soil
on the banks of the streams very FERTILE and himself collected
three pounds of gold various spots and several pieces OF
quartz rock with veins Of gold in it, As agricultural
country, Daen presents the most favorable prospects, lis
fertile soil and the rapid growth of the antan sugar cane
which arrives maturity in nine months, make superior to
Dsmarara and though Astounding in rivers, 1t IS Tree from
swanps and land liable to nundation The timber equal
that of British Guiana, and game, including aigators and
tigers, is abundant.
O. The Government of New Grenada affords great adsan
ages immigrants in the form of employment loans and
grants Of land The average Cahagena or Santa
Martha thirty days. and emigans can go out for 70 per
head The tracts be colonzed consist OF nigh table LANDS
and elevated valleys, (neary nine thousand feet) with
temperate clmate-5Oo to 500 all the year On the table
lands wheat will grow, and in the valleys, Coffee cotton,
cocoa, sugarcane and other tropical crops The settler has
his choice of climate, from the level of tropical vegetation to
regions of perpetual The country is scattered
with aording supplies, and Of internal and
terna communication The population consists Of old Creole
Spanards and the religion Is Roman Catholic, but perfect
liberty is allowed. The government is pure democracy
The population Of the capital Bogota 900. The Cor
dleras form great table land platform, which
piled mountains, ntersected by valleys in every
direction
g. In conclusion, the writer recommends the rivers Chu
and Savanna the direct and feasible mode Of
with the Atlantic. The Savanna navigabe
by large vessels about miles above which, for fifteen
miles, would require deepening, and then there remains
only ten miles the Atlantic where the cutting would be
assisted by ravne From mountain the river Lara,
branch Of the savanna both Atlantic and Pacific visible
The canal would open the old Scotch settlement Of New
Edinburgh, at Puno Escosses.