Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-08-30
The Chiriqui Gold Diggings-Central America.

By the last arrival from Central America,
it appears that the Chiriqui excitement still
continues and several vessels had left Pana-
ma for the reg ion of the new discoveries.
Mr.. John Power, one of the editors OF the
Panama Star and Herald, is among those
who have left, for the purpose of making II
personal inspection of the state Of affairs, and
reporting the result in his paper
The latest news from the region Is gwen IN
the Star of the 18th inst, rs follows:
1.-The schooner .Jusefa arrived in port on the
night of the 10th inst, bringing news from
David to the 18th inst. The reports continue
10 be Of highly favorable character, and
large quantities of gold continue to he taken
ont of the graves. The party who went up
to Chriqui in the Josea, on the 10Th Of July.
for the purpose of digging, are SO well salts
fed, that they have concluded to remain, not
withstanding the heavy rains which prevail
at this season, and they are now successfully
engaged at the diggings.
MIR. llaweS, who has returned Tor the pnr-
pose of taking up another stock of goods,
has brought down quantity of very splcn-
did specimens. He calculates. after 4 care
full investigation, that he has seen at least
]
of these gold images in the houses of poor
people in David but he thinks there must be
great deal more he did not see, As they are
very shy about exhibiting them to strangers
Ii is strange that among all the variety OF
figures which have been found, there Is not
one which resembles either horse, cow, pig,
dog, cat. or any other domestic animal, strong
proof that they were made by race who
existed prior to the introduction of those
animals to this continent.
The country appears i'll many places to be
covered with graves for miles, and 1t is
thought that there will be plenty of occupa-
ton for thousands of people when the dry
season sets in, which will be in the end Of
December.
At present it would be unwSe for foreign
ers to 90 there, US they would in all proba-
blity get fever from exposure to the rains,
and they could make little progress in pros
pecting, owing 20 the swollen state OF the
streams. We would, therefore, recommend
persons in the United States, who contem-
plate seeking fortune in Chiriqui, TO re-
main at home until December, or early in
January, when they will have several months
of dry weather Letore they Gun be traversed
without any difficulty. We learn that the
Project extended every hospitality to the for
eigners visiting David. and has allowed them
free Use Of his lands to dig on.
We have been examining the grant of
land belonging to the Chiriqui Real Estate
Company, obtained Il few years ago for colo
nization purposes from the Legislature of
Chiriqui, and the immigrants are prospect
ing with considerable success in that direc-
ton. We would suggest to the company
that their long neglected grant is now worth
looking after, as aside from its richness in
cocoa nut trees, coal beds, and other valua-
BILE products, large tracts of these Indian
huacas undoubtedly exist there, and the i'm
preston is that the long lost mines of Estrel-
la will be found if not on, at any rate in the
immediate vicinity of their property.
The province q! Chiriqui is one of the
most healthy and beautiful districts in New
Grenada, and the temperature Is so cool that
blankets are required at nights; and now
that we have received satisfactory coulirma-
ton of the reports already published twill
be by no means astonishing to see rush
there as soon as the rains cease.
Provisions are reported as being both cheap
and abundant, without any prospect Of Il
rise, rs the country abounds in rice, corn,
cattle &C."