Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-08-06


nsvei Scum Americas coId Dieginss.
The Panama correspondent Of thcN. X.
Tribune writes that the announcement Of
she discovery in The northern part Of New
Grenada Of . rather novel description Of
gold digginga. has excited considerable in.
terest IN that city. Some Of The metal has
found ts way to Panama, and specimens
has been sent to New York to have its val
ne tested. The writer says
In the department Cbiriqui. and indeed
throughout all the interior Of this State
and in Central America, exist vast num-
bers Of the burial places Of the Indians,
known by the name Of "Hnncas !" they
consist generally Of circle Of stones set
closely together like pavement, about six
OF seven feet in diameter, aud from two to
four feet high, beaeatb which, at depth
from six to eight feet, the remains Of the
deceased are deposited. In these graves
are always found earthenware, jars, vases
Sc, and in few, golden ornaments had
been discovered, bat it now appears that
they oil contain greater or less quantities
Of the precious metal, deposited in GER
tain locality in regard 10 the position OF
the corpse. Already over 500, 900 worth
has on the most felable authority been OBJ
tanned, consisting Of wrought gold in vari
ous forms, such as human figures, animals
lizards, frogs. suns, scorpions, &c. these
vary in size from one to FIVE inches in length
(at least such as Ihave seen) and in weight
from two to eight ounces the workman
ship OF some exhibits very great skill while
Others are of the very rudest kind. The
whole population Of the district where the
discovery was made have turned out to the
diggings the entire country is covered
with millions Of these graves, and if they
all contain gold, there is work enough for a
large number of persons for many years.
Already two or three little coasting YES
sells have started with provisions, tools &C.,
TO the locality, and probably some of our
idle residents may be tempted to try their
lnck in these new ''placers."
Nine of the golden images dug from the
Indian tombs Of Chiriqui, Central Ameri-
ca, are in the possession Of Messrs. Ball,
Black & Co., New York. The Tribune re-
marks
Among them are representations of the
bat, the eagle the peccary, the frog and
other animals. The largest, representing a
bat, is about five inches long by three and
q half inches in width, and weighs six ouu-
ees. The gold is about twenty carats fine
some of it slightly alloyed with copper
and is worth as merchandise about $17 the
ounce but as objects of curiosity, the
images are sold on the spot for $50 the
ounce. The images are cast and polished,
and exhibit much ingenuity in the mould.
ing. The people by whom such objects
were made, must have been considerably
advanced in civilization. The study of
American antiquities will doubtless be ad-
vanced by the discovery of these remark
able images.
The Panama Star and Herald publishes
the following extracts from two private let
ters, which indicate an immense amount Of
buried treasure
''The principal event here is the discov-
cry of great riches in the sepuIchres of the
original inhabitants of Chirique. At pre-
sent, over thousand persons are working
in the district of Bequeron at the places
called Mannudo aud Bugalta in opening
the 'Huacas' Indian graves) there, aud it
u calculated that at least nine arrobas
(R225l of fine gold have been extracted
The other letter to which we allude says:
II saw $4,000 in the hands of one man
slone-and there are others who have still
more. There are millions of these graves
all over the country in this province, and
also throughout Central America-enough
to employ thousands of men for many years.
It is only three weeks since the diggings
commenced, and the amount of wrought
gold discovered is enormous.
The letter goes on to say that agricul-
ture is quite deserted, and that provisions,
liquors, clothing and tools would 6ud good
market The editor adds:
These accounts come from most reliable
and disinterested sources, and are worthy
Of every credit. Chirique is beautiful and
healthy country, sparsely populated by a
quiet and simple people. AS the graves
are scattered over vast extent, and far
from any settlements, persons who think of
trying this novel mode Of mining should 20
well prepared. and not trust to the present
resources of the country"