Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-09-25

quiet. peaoeable, race. they are of the
most primitive order. knowing and
caring nothing for the treasures the
soil around them oonceals. The Carse-
wene River flows through the interior
to the sea. 1t is only navigable for
thirty odd miles, and the forests are
impassable. Upon it is Counani City,
a cluster Of cabins. distant about forty
eight hours by sea from Cayenne, in
French Guiana. There lives Jean
Baptiste, half-breed Roucouyenne
Indian, an aged man. and the one who
is responsible for the tales of the gold
finds which first started out the French
prospectors about year and half
ago. Shortly before that, Baptiste's
GARRISON was given by the old man in
care of French fisherman called
Pierre Villiers. who promised to bring
him up'in the way he should 60 As
a reward for this service, Baptiste
told Villiers that he knew of rich gold
mines at II certain point up the Carse-
wenne River. His own grandfather.
a koucouyenne chief. had. said Bap-
tiste. left him this secret as legacy.
But Villiers said it would be impossi-
Bile for him to go; he thought the old
man was wandering in his mind.
However, he also thought it worth
while to repeat the story in Cayenne.
where he knew oolored man exper-
fenced in gold mining called Tamba.
The result was that Tamba. Villiers.
and Jean Baphste finally went in search
Of the gold mines. Ten days journey
by canoe up the Carsewenne River
brought them to n lake. Here. Bap-
tiste told them, was the treasure place.
and under his directions they exoavated
at various points until Tamba cried out
that he had struck lead of golden
sand. A bag was filed with this.
and carried to Cayenne by Tamba.
who realized from it five or six hundred
ounces of the precious metal. Under
the law. however, as he could motor
would not-aooount for his possession
of the bag. tho Cayenne police arrested
him as supposed thief; but inquiries
made among the owners of gold mines
throughout French Guiana failed to
discover an owner for Tamba 8 treas
ure. Upon his release he went off
again to the same place. and this time
secured nearly six thousand ounces.
No one now interfered with him, and
he was able to make an arrangement
with welltodo resident of Cayenne
named Basly, who fitted out small
vessel, went with Tamba to the dig
gings and brought back cargo of sand
from which the two speculators OBJ
tanned one million francs worth Of
gold.
Tampa's story soon became known,
and there was a general rush for the
land of promise. People gave up their
regular business and turned their
property into ships and mining outfits.
When the first contingent returned
they sold their freight to the banks
for nearly million dollars. There
now ensued regular stampede. and
the entire colony became excited in the
hope of gaining rapid fortunes, until
it looked as though in time none
would be left to attend to the ordinary
duties and pursuits of life. Everyone
wanted to go, and finally the horde of
gold seekers was increased by arrivals
from British Guiana and other parts
of South and Central Ameri "a and
from the West Indies The influx of
prospectors was accompanied by con-
tingent of desperadoes, who obstructed
the route up the Carsewene River and
preyed upon the returning miners.
Even this did not deter the gold-mad-
dened hunters, but the French governor
had considerable difficulty in. obtain
ing leave from home to guard the colo
nists from the robbers. The treaty be-
tween France and Brazil stood in the
way, when force was at last sent.
The result was the International COM
plication which. as we have seen, led
to the reopening of the ancient wrangle.
At first it was feared that the conyicts
for French Guiana is a dumping
ground for convicts from all other
French colonies-would endeavor to
escape, and thus increase the difficulties
of the situation, but nothing of the
kind has happened so far. 1t will be
interesting to watch the developments
of the international arbitration pro-
ceedings, and to see what conclusion
the King OF Sweden will arrive at
concerning the disposition of this vast
territory. covering 100000 square
miles. For whether it is or not the
Ell Doardo Spaniards dreamed of and
sacrificed their lives in trying to dis
cover, we all know now that it is truly
land of gold, and worth fighting for.
Thomas Oonnelly.