The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-06-20
The New Grenada Gold Mines.


Daily Ne,es will put a damper upon those
who have an itching to go to New Gren-
ada TO seek their fortunes Charles Hill,
who is mentioned, was formerly from
Bridport, VI, and afterwards Gold Hill,
Nevada
BARBACoAs, State of Cauca,
u. ). c., March 18th, 1866 (
Dear Friend Il take the opportunity
of sending you few lines, as a friend of
mine is returning TO California, and will
try to tell something of this strange land
We had very pleasant passage TO Pan
anna, and then came on schooner to
Tumaco-fare S25 Iumaco is small
place, not over one hundred houses. -
From there we took canoes. There arc
two routes TO this place-one across the
Bay and up the River Plata, the other
crosses the Bay and up a slough then
overland two miles, then in canoes again,
down another slough or creek, into tho
main river We came the latter route.
The country is fat, and so completely
overgrown with tropical forests that it is
impossible to 90 or even see any distances
l never saw anything like it; all the
tropical trees and plants growing in such
dense masses some of those old prints of
Brazilian forests are the thing exactly
1t is about one hundred and fifty miles
from Tumaco to this place. The river Is
large and deep enough to float almost any
steamboat. 1t required five days to come
here in canoe poled by great, naked
buck niggers-cost S13 This place,
Barbacoas has some two or three hun
dred houses; but, remember, that
house in this country is built of bamboo
and set upon posts, and one must climb n
ladder TO get into them; the roofs are
made Of palm leaves, and spiders and
scorpions are quite plentiful. As yet
have not seen any snakes but am told
they are very numerous in the woods
1t has rained every day-commencing
al evenng-and the most terrific thund
I'd lightning ever experienced is here
to he seen. The weather is much better
than | expecte1-thermometer standing
at 80 degrees and does not vary more
than I OR 8 the year round. | am told
the woods are alive with parrots and
birds of the most beautiful, and butter
flies as large as the open hands, and some
of them Of the deepest ultramarine blue.
| have tried my best to get some, but
they are to supple for me. Fruit of all
kinds tropical are in abundance. But
the place is desperately sickly Every
thing mildews; the boots upon our feet,
the belt around the dody and clothing III
the trunk or carpet-sack the knife in
your pocket, or anything steel or iron,
will rust in few hours. Nictuals cook
ing at breakfast will be sour before suppet
time. 1t is no wonder that it is sickly.
Almost all who stay in this town or near
here, are, or have been, sick with the
fever; two have died-a German, from
San Francisco, and Charles Hill. We
buried Hill on last Thursday morning.
lie was sick only three days. You
know him he visited Hall or Hull, who
lived next door to the shop back Of
Aylsworth'S stables. Hall or Hull (he
one with black mustache) was his room
mate at one time, belivc. think you
will remember him he wore Masonic
pin, and worked in the Confidence mine
also in Burke & Hamilton. OF all the
Americans IN this town, strange to say,
there was only three Masons and four
Odd Fellows Alter the death of Hill,
a rough box was prepared and large
American flag spread over it, and his
remains carried to the grave, followed
by all the Americans and large number
OF natives. lie Episcopal burial service
was read, and we then left him, far from
i .ormer home, there to remain until
The he Il recion. The boys discouraged.
and most of them frightened, and Tx Of
'ns back Immediately.
Now in regard to the mines: This
country has Gel very rich place Tho
whole county, for miles around, has been
mined as clean as California. The only
show here is to get into some old claim
that has not been worked for hundred of
years, and after four or five months labor
may possibly find Il spot that was missed
There Is unIy Connor', claim that is IL
ing ont any gold at all. This Is Il grand
scheme, cotton up here by three or four
men, to get emigration here and prospect
the old abandoned claims Tor the Spar-
iards, and if anything is found then TO re-
ceiye one-half a great many are going
into the country, from fifty to one hundred
miles, where the climate is rcpr s'nIed TO
be healthy and good mines; but they arc
such internal liars here, one cannot believe
anything he hears. Many of the boys are
going up. ,halI remain here few days
and try TO hear from some of my friends
that have promised 10 send me word what
they find and il anything comes favorable
then | will go-it not, shall return TO
Panama, where have job offered me-
stay there "A mouth or TWO, and then
return 10 Virginia city again
ALBERT HIRES