Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-07-30

Novel South American Gold Disaings.
The Panama correspondent Of the n. Y. Tn
bune writes that the announcement OF the dis.
covery in the northern part Of New Grenada
Of 'ther novel description Of gold diggings.
ba, ,cited considerable interest in that city -
Some ofthe metal has found its way to Panama,
and specimens have been sent to New York
to have its value tested The writer says
In the department Of Chirqui, and indeed
throughout all the interior of this State and in
Central America, exist vast numbers Of the bu
rial places Of the Indians, known by the name of
"Huncas;' they consist generally ola circle Of
stones set closely together like pavement, about
six OF seven feet in diameter, and from two to
four feet high beneath which, at a depth Of
SIX to eight feet, the remains OF the deceased
are deposited. Intheso graves are always found
oartheuware, jars, vases, &C., and in a few, gold
en- ornaments had been discovered, but it now
appears that they all contain greater or less
quantities Of the precious metal, deposited ~ a
certain locality in regard to the position of the
corpse. Already over 100000 worth has on
the most readable authority been obtained, con
sisting of wrought gold in various 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 | have
secn) and in weight from two TO eight ounces;
the workmanship 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 dig
gings the entire country is covered with mill
ions 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 vessels have started with
provisions, tools &c. to the locality, and prob
ably some of our idle residents may be tempt
ed to try their luck in these new "placers.
Nine of the golden images dug from the In
dian tombs of Chiriqui Central America, are
in the possession of Messrs. Ball, Black Il Co /,
New York, The Tribune remarks
Among them are representations Of the bat,
the eagle, the peccary, the frog, and other ami
uals The largest, representing a bat is about
five inches long by three and half inches in
width, and weighs six ounces The gold is
generally about twenty carats tine-some Of it
slightly alloyed with cOpper-and is worth as
merchandise about Sl7 the ounce; but as oh
jects Of curiosity, the images are sold on the
spot for $40 the ounce. The images are cast
and polished, aud exhibit much ingenuity in
Tue luoululllH. ut ptOplt uN "llOul SuNh w
jects were made, must have been considerably
advanced in civilization The study of Amer
lean antiquities will doubtless be advanced by
the discovery of these remarkable images.
The Panama Star and Herald publishes the
following extracts from two private letters
which indicate an immense amount Of buried
treasure:
The principal event here is the discovery
of great riches in the sepulchres of the origi.
nal inhabitants of Chiriqui At present, over
thousand persons are working in the district
of B1queron at the places called Manuudo aud
Bugahta in opening the Huacas' Qndian
graves there, and it is calculated that at least
nine arrobas (f225) OF fine gold Of the best lei
and of tumbdga have been extracted.
" There is a tradition that i'll former times u
Spanish ship, Obliged to put into one of our
ports from stress of weather for repairs, brought
off a box OF earth from the shore for the galley
fireplace, and that on arrival at home on remOv.
ing the box, thin cake of gold was discover
ed at the bottom Of it, the circumstance gave
rise to a large emigration TO the district and
the city of La Estrella was founded where the
richest mines between Cana and San Martin
were for many years worked but the depreda-
tons of the fillibusters and the hostility of the
Indians compelled the inhabitants to abandon
the spot, and they retired to Costa Rica, where
they founded the city of Carriage Notwith.
standing many attempts were made to discover
the site of the city and its gold mines, it is still
unknown but it is thought that these dscov.
cries will induce fresh explorations, which may
at least tend TO the discoveries Of the rich uu-
rilerous deposits known to exist in the province.
The number of huncas throughout the country
is very large, and may yield immense treas
ures "
The other letter to which we allude says:
81 saw $4,000 in the hands of enc man
alone-aud there are others who have still
more There are millions OF these graves all
over the country in this province, and also
throughout Central Amerca-enough to cm-
ploy thousands of men for many years Il is
only three weeks since the diggings commenced,
and the amount Of wrought gold discovered s
enormous"
The letter goes on to say that agriculture is
quite deserted, and that provisions, liquors,
clothing and tools would find good market.
The editor adds:
These accounts come from most reliable and
disinterested sources, and are worthy of every
credit Chiriqui is a beautiful and healthy
country, sparseIy populated by quiet and sim.
pie people. As the graves are scattered over
vast extent, and far from any settlements, per
sons who think of trying this novel mode of
mining should go well prepared, and not trust
to the present resources of the country