The Republican journal., 1898-01-20

rtmon-with its dark forests and tower
ing mountains and rivers of unknown
sources. its exuberent vegetation, gorge
Us birds, big serpents, tiger-cats and IN
.aued tribes-stretches along the whole
Atlantic front of Costa Rica, from
Nicaragua to the Isthmus of Panama.
though the largest province OF the coun-
-ry. and probably the richest in natural
resources, it is by far the least populated,
considerable portion of it being to this
Jay literal terra incognita. Some 30
Talamanca Indian reservation begins
ne of the most interesting regions on
lie continent, both historically and phys
eally. 1t comprises those lands original
IN granted by the Spanish Crown to
hristopher Columbus, in the year 1902,
soon after .he discoverer sailed up the
Zorro River, into which empties the ia
NOUS Rio del Estrella-" River OF the
star" The lovely little harbor in which his
aect was anchored is yet called Bahea del
Almirante, The Admirals Bay" AS
~aa in those days the territorial grant
aa, accompanied by a title Of nobility
aa Dlkedom of Nilagua. In the assign
t1t Of jurisdiction made to the first
yornor Of Costa Rica, this Dukedom
specially excepted. Not May years
er. however the Admirals oldest son
-.l Luis Colon, or Columbus, as We call
name-entered into an agreement
ieb incorporated these lands with the
val estate thereafter the Governors of
costa Rica were authorized to occupy and
minister them. 1t is in this region
Flat those celebrated but perhaps my
clical mixes of gold and silver are sup
-ed to be situated which gave the
country its name-'The Rich Coast
N re than three centuries ago, two
falcons, laden with precious dust and ore,
sailed every year down the Rio del
Estrella and the Rio Zorro into Almirante
Law, and thence across the ocean to
adiz. Just where those early mines are
situated, no man now living knows.
Indian massacre followed massacre in
tie attempted conquest of the country,
and in course of time impenetrable forests
spraug up in the footprints of the greedy
2paniards, obliterating all trace of them.
Today nothing is known, either in Spain
ur Costa Rica, concerning the ancient
L Dorados of Estrella and Tisingal, tales
III whose wonderful richness once set the
world agog, beyond the vague traditions
II the Indians. A missionary priest of
tae college of Propaganda, writing on
dis subject in the year 1886, says: at
c4uu9t be doubted that many very rich
MINES exist in the region. In particular
ve nave accounts of a wonderful silver
deposit in high hill called san Mateo,
l14m which enormous quantities OF ore
Ne.a taken III The last century. | have
teen Told by converted Indian that the
aueeate9 II the present day relate how.
s.tp1 the massacre OF the Spaniards in
VAST quantities Of gold were thrown
-4e AXE. where it still remains. =
atN d. lake the good Padre referred to,
AL t-- mole han two centuries and ii
lai ago, and where situated in the path
te,s u4le who can say
About 20 years ago it was reported that
SONG documents, proving the exact
whereabouts of these treasures, had been
discovered in the archieves at Havana,
Du6a The President OF Costa Rca,
lMtsa. l believel Immediately dispatch
Ell secret agents to secure the papers, but
ii the coveted information was gained,
Interested parties have kept it profound
secret
For more than two centuries after Spain
leid sway over all the surrounding region,
the Ialamanca Indians remained uncon-
4uered and were regarded as the most
waTlike race on the continent. In the
summer of 1910 they came down from
their mountain Businesses and killed all the
>paniards within reach, completely wiping
cat their city, named San Jago de Tai
amanca, which stood on the left bank of
the Rio Estlella. In their savage thirst
Tor vengeance against the hated whites,
fearful atrocities were committed-such
is pouring melted gold down the threats
of the usurpers, and butchering men.
women, priests and children in one wild
carnage. Half century later they were
partially subdued by Don Roderigo NAL
donado, who afterwards rebuilt the CITY
Of San Jago (St. james, with greater
splendor than before But in 1907 the
unconquerable savages again arose, and
with knife and arrow, melted ore and de-
vOunng torch, again exterminated the
oppressors. And SO complete was the
humiliation that no trace can now be
found of the once proud city OF San Jago,
with its famous castle of Idefonso, and
the mines of EStrella became a mere tradi-
ton Subsequent attempts to control
these Indians met with better success.
and the Talamanca's OF day give the
government no trouble, cultivating the
little farms on their reservation in peace
and apparent contentment. Their houses