Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1859-08-20
The Ciliriqui Gold Diggings.

lhe newspaper correspondents and
others on the IstLmus of Panama conti-
nue. to repeat the Incredible stories Of
finding golden images in the ancient
graves at Chiriqui A Panama cores
pondent ofthc N. Y. Times writes;
| Our gold excitement is intensifyinr
On the Goth the brig Josefa, command
led by down-east Yankee, Capt. Patter
son, sailed with cargo of shovels, H.
quors and provisions, and about so pas
sengers, for Chiriqui, the grave-diggers'
"El Dorado" Among the PASSENGERS
were half-a-dozen Americans, few Eng
ling, and monte dealer. The accounts
that continue to reach US of the wealth
OF these Indian cemeteries or 'huacas"
IN golden images and trinkets are every
day growing more wonderful.
A hat has been found made of cx-
ceedlng fine gold, and of great weight.
Also, "golden woman" but how large
woman is not stated 1t is little Gu.
rlous, seeing with what contempt the
indians generally treated females, that
they should have wasted the precious
metal in fashioning one. 1t must have
been love-sck Indian that made that
figure
These tombs, it appears are of great
extent, some of them having conta;ned
many hundred bodies. The gold is said
to be contained in earthen vessels bv
the side of the body. The ground where
the 'huacas" are is covered with trees,
and 1T was by the falling of large tree
growing out of the top of a mound that
the deposits were discovered. The roots
OF the tree took with them the earth and
the mason work of one of the mounds,
leaving the gold exposed, which was ac
cldentaIly seen by a man when passing
close to 1t. Many persons who have
gone down are enthusiastic enough to
believe they shall find the source from
whence all this wealth was obtained.
They may do SO but it does not follow
they will get much gold from it.
The Indians only used the article for
ornaments, and it is more than likely
that they were two or three hundred
years IN getting together the quater of
a million dollars worth that may have
been buried with their chefs and great
men in this Chiroqui sepulehre. Gold
has never been found in New Granada
in sufficient quantities to pay Califor-
MIA digger.
Another correspondent says:
One of the natives is said to have
gone stark mad at the sudden increase,
and one very ancient gentleman of color
has taken out lump, $4,000 worth,
"at one fell swoop." These "huacas"
extend over vast area, are regularly
and compactly arranged, and thousands,
remain to be uncovered The dead In
dians were buried in sitting position.
with all their yellow drops inclosed with
them as company, and almost every
''huaca" is supposed to contain more Or
less gold, besides it is conceived that in
this locality, Chiriqui, many rich mines,
now lost, will be recovered, the same
from whence the immense wealth of
these Indians was first obtained. A
lumber of old miners have gone for the
purpose of prospecting for the virgin
gold. There is legend Of the country,
hat in the days Of old, ship being for
led to put in upon the coast of Chiriqui
or water, filed at the same time their
galley bottom with fresh earth, and on
heir arrival back to old Spain found at
The bottom of their galley fire sheet of
melted gold, which enriched them all.
Others returned and sought the spot
rom whence they took the earth, but in
vain. What il they should strike this
cad. =@z@2 st ys4flsz a~ fS r.