Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-01

ting them out forever To-day nothing is |
known, either in Spain or Costa Rica, con-
trella and Tisingah, beyond the vague
traditions of the Indians
A missionary priest, Of the College of
Propaganda, writing on this subject in
1886, says: "The region is barren, but it
cannot be doubted that many rich mines
exist in it. Ia particular, we have ac-
counts of a wonderful silver deposit in
high hill called San Mateo, from which
large quantities Of ore were taken in the
last century. / have been told by a con-
verted Indian that the Cabecaras of the
present day relate that after the massacre
Of the Spaniards in 1901 vast quantities of
gold were thrown into the lake, where
they still remain"
About thirty years ago it was reported
that some documents, proving the exact
whereabouts of the treasures, had been dis
covered in the archieves at Havana. I'm
mediately President Mora dispatched secret
agents to secure the papers; but it was
never known whether the coveted informa-
tion was gained, for if so, interested parties
secretly availed themselves of it.
From time immemorial, the Talamancas
| have been considered the most warlike
and unmanageable race on the continent.
In the summer of 1910, when the rapacity
of the Spaniards became unbearable, they
uprose one day and massacred all the in
habitants of the city, called San Jas de
| Talamanca, which stood on the left bank
of the Estrella. In their savage thirst for
vengeance some dreadful atrocities were
committed-such as pouring melted gold
down the throats of their hated oppressors,
and butchering men, women, priests and
children in one wild carnage.
Half century later they were partially
subdued by Don Roderigo Maldonado, who
fitted out an armed expedition against
them and rebuilt the city of San Jago in
greater splendor than before. But in 1907
the unconquerable Indians again arose.
and with knife, melted ore and devouring
torch, exterminated the usurper. So COM
plete was the humiliation, that to-day not
only the gold mines of the Estrella are
faint traditions, only, but few traces can be
found of the famous castle of San Ildefonso.
or the proud city of San Jago. No sudse-
quent attempts have ever been made
| TO CONTROL THE INDIANS
Ofthat section, who-sosay hemissionaries
"relapsed into astate ofhopeless heathen-
ism" However that may have been. the
Talamancas of to-day are peaceable and
industrious, in no way unfriendly to any
strangers who may enter their territory,
and obeying the laws of the land, ike
other citizens.
Still more interesting are the Guatusos.
| IraII Of ~, -.
! This stream-so named because of its ex-
treme coldness-rises in the northern
mountains, and loses itself in Lake Near
aqua, opposite Fort Carlos For three
hundred and fifty years The valley of the
trio has been a literal terra incognita.
What manner of people inhabit it, how
| they live, what their blood, language, Gus
toms and religion, none can tell From the
beginning they seem to have sworn that no
| strangers shall set foot within their do
main, and fereely have they repelled all
who sought admission. Even powerful
expeditions, such as that of 1888, projected
and led by Tristan, Bishop of Nicaragua.
and another in 1S49, have been boldly met
and driven back. Catholic missionaries.
who went on peaceful errands, appear to
have Jared no better-for not one of them
returned TO tell the story of his advent
ures.
The illustrious Don Francisco de Paula
Garcia Pelaez, alluding to this fact in his
"Historia de Guatemala" writes 'It was
as if these mountains were the very gates
of hell, flom within which there was no
redemption. Finally, about IT'S years ago,
after many good priests had disappeared
within these mysterious gates the See of
Rome-probably fearing that the supply
would be xhausted-formally cut off that
inscrutable region from all future benefits
of religion, and forbade any more priests
to enter it."
The statement that the Guatusos are
white corresponds with the report of Bishop
Tristans expedition OF 1888.
AFTER MARCHING FOURTEEN DAYS
| Up the Rio Frio, they came at last upon A
number of those Indians encamped in a
shady bend of the river, whom thev de-
scribe as ''of good size and white skin"
The latest information concerning this
singular tribe was found in the Chronista
de Costa Rica, and was furnished by an
officer in the Costa Rican service. Said
he: Between the peaks of the lofty vol
canoes, Orosi and Mirayalles, and the river
OF San Carlos, extends vast plain, inhab-
tied by the Guatusos. It's pretended that
this tribe is descended from the colonists
who fled from Espasza when that city was
taken by the Filibusters of antiquity.
Snch as have CHANGED to see any of them
affirm that they are white, have boards.
and are praclced in certain system of
military discipline. Foreign to Costa
Rica, yet inhabiting the richest zone of its
territory, this people greatly piqued our
curiosity when we accompanied the expe-
dition against the modern Filibusters on
the San Juan river but though we went
long distance up the Frio, we never
/ found any Of them"
More fortunate was a colonel of the Cos
ia Rlcan division under General George
Canty (who descended the northern
mountains and entered San Juan, at the
time when forts, steamboats,, and every
thing else in possession of Walkers forces
were so brilliantly taken); who related
that, as the rear guard of the division were
passing dense forest, ii was struck by
shower of arrows from the thickets. Quick
| ly replying with muskets and mimic balls
a piercing shrek was heard within the for
est, and the branches cracked as though a
multitude were rushing through them.
Cutting path with their mechates through
the thick underwood, the soldiers found
the body of a beautiful young woman, al
most naked and perfectly white, who had
been mortally wounded and who died as
they gently lifted her.
FANNIE B. WARD.
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