New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-15
COSTA RIGA.
BY A FORMER BRITISH CONSUL.

BY A FORMER BRITISH CONSUL.
VI.
There is an undertaking in course OF progress
in the eastern part of Costa Rca which, If it
should succeed, will be- OF great importance TO the
country though the natives aud the Government
do nothing to further its successfully, the Govern
neut even discOuntenances II. l allude 10 tne
German colony Of Reyentazon. My limits do not
admit of my entering into any particulars concern
ing the formation of the Berlin Colonization Com
tany | shall merely state that the grant they
have from the Costa Rican Government (under
the at pulaton that ,000 sdut coonists shall be
settled ON the territory conceded within the peri
cd of twenty years, May, 1922 covers nine square
leagues with an accessory grant of 50 acres for
every colonst introduced, under penalty OF forfeit
ure. however, of the nine square leagues, II the
above mentioned stipulation be not fulfilled within
tie prescribed period of time. In connection
with the Colonization Company there Is another
COMPANY composed of native residents OF Car
taeo. who have associated for the opening OF
road from their town to the port OF Lmon on
the Atlantic, passing through the territory OF
the Colony; but like all things undertaken by ma
tiyes, they have not yet made any progress
not even found their uay through the forest though
their Company has been in existence tor the last
three years. Still the enterprise interests IN
high degree the welfare and Advancement oil the
country, for should good road be made In the
contemplated direction, the whole European cOul-
merce of Costa Rica must change from Punta
Arenas to Limon, and the country be thereby
brought nearer TO the European markets by eight
or ten thousand miles.
In the month of August ] paid visit TO the
Colony in company with my friend MIR. de
Schr0ter. We started from San Jose at o o'clock
on the orning Of the LIST, and with diticulty, on
account of the very bad state of the road reached
n - IL tb a ii ata had
Travelled was not more than 10 miles. After rest
ing there an hour We continued our journey, and
put up at about four o'clock at place named
Ceryantes some 10 miles further. This latter
portion of the road was exceedingly fatigulDg, the
soil being unctOus clay, rendered as slippery as ice
BY thin rain, very much resembling Scotch
mist which fell during the whole OF the early part
Of the afternoon. However, just before we ar
rived at Ctryantes, the weather cleared and the
sun broke through the vapOrs cheering and warm
ing us. On the banks OF a streamlet short die
lance beyond the village, we stopped at r house,
OF which, in Costa kica fashion, We took posses
sion by cOOy lifting the latch and walking in, all
the inhabitants being absent Our servants I'M
saddled our mules and set them free 10 Craze on
the thick rich grass around next they spre I'D our
blankets upon the wooden bench which serves for
a bedstead, and lighted FIRE in an outer shed
which WAS used as kitchen and prepared our
and made ourselves comfortable on kind Of bal
cony formed on the upper floor by the landing of
the out-ofdOOr stairs and when our provisions
were laid before u.s. we eagerly attacked them,
and drank from our TASKS of sherry wine 70 the
health of absent friends. We chatted and laughed
and cast every now and then an admiring glance
at the high fUrestclad peaks in the distance, and
the fsnta, tically clouds which hung on the
tree tops or foated majestically in the blue heay
ems, gorgeously lighted by the varying hues of the
fastsinking sun. A. il grew dark the owner OF
the house came home aud bid us welcome The
night was beautiful. We pulled away at our CT
CARS, until it being time to rest We entered the
house and lay down.
As is usual in those countries, we started
next morning at day break, and st ten we crossed
what is called the I" quebrada honda" or deep IA
vine, one of the most difficult mountain passes
ever met with, where the mules have to ascend
and descend a kind of titanic stairs shaped out Of
huge blocks Of stone, thrown down 50 precipitOus
de .livity that many do not dare cross it other.
wise than on foot; but we were far too lazy 20
follow their prudent example. At mid day we dis
covered the small and romantic valley Of furialya;
the haze of no0a danced around the landscape, aud
gave il the rich tint of southern climates, as we
viewed il, from the hi ht where we stood, away
below US in the distances it was truly beautiful.
had fancied that Turialva was quit, large set
Element and was surprised to find that it con-
tanned only one house and few huts. After fol-
loving for short space the border Of the Turialva
River, We re-en ered the forest, through which
clearing has been cut of some ten yards in breadth
ard over which the tangled roots and stumps of
trees halfhidden in the mud rem ter the Travellers
safety question Of chance and of good luck.
1t Was late in the day we descended the
mountain, at the foot of which flows the rapid
waters OF TIE Reyentazon, aud as We discovered
the bridge my companion exclaimed that il was
broken. II certainly appeared so, for there was
depression of nearly three feet in the center. We
found man st the entrance Of the bridge who
told ne that il was unsafe and that we must dis
mount aud pass one at time, lest our combined
weight should cause it to fall. The bridge was
constructed five trees lain the river rest
ing either end on huge rocks heapel on each
bank by the hand Of nature, and forming the abut-
nerts Of the BRIDGE thirty feet below the waters
rushed with violence at the rate Of 20 miles per
hour. ] measured With glance the length Of the