The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-11-08

MYSTERY OF THE
AzTEZ DIAMONDS.
Known only to the Warlike
Mexican Indians.
Supposed to be Hidden Treasure
of Some Bnccaneer of Past
Centuries.

There is no more tantalizing le-
gnds of hidden wealth than that
concerning The diamonds mines OF
the Csanacinta River, Mexico. Al
the same time, the diamonds them
selves are so for from being uncon
selves are SO far from being uncom-
mon that the ac,uil existence of an
important diamond producing dis
rict does not admit a doubt. The
Usamacin,a pierces the mountains
rifle gorges with walls hundreds of
feet high, comparable in sublimi,y
and grandeur TO the Grand Canon Of
the Colorado. The point where the
river emerges into the open plain is
called "Bocadel Caro-" Mouth of
thu Mountajn). The upper Usama-
Ruta has never been explored; but
BY treaty agreement it forms the
5ounGry line between Mexico and
Guatemala for distance of Is or
ipO miles; and through this region
the course If the river is purely con-
iec'ur0l. The district is the home
OF tha Lancadon Indians, probably
the most savages and warlike tribe
remaining IN North America.
Few travellers spend many hours
II Merida, Sisas, or Balacar, Yucca
tan or az Progreso, British Hondu-
ras without being approached by
some Maya patriarch, who, with
great mys' cry and endless injunc-
tons TO secrecy finally displays an
uncut diamond for sale. The In
bans are shrewd bargainers, and
never barter the precious baubles for
a song. although they are glad to
sci them for much less than their
real value. Strangely enough, they
utterly refuse 10 deal with the resi-
dent planters, traders, and mana
gers, of the henequen plantations.
Probably they fear 10 cultivate the
acqua:utence of the residents of the
peninsula for the reason that that
course might lead 10 the ultimate
discovery of the sources from which
they obtain the gems. The captain
of vessel engaged in the sisal
hemp trade estimates that from
fifty TO q hundred of these Aztec
ii2Tonds" lind their way 10 civili-
cation every year.
Nn,u Tie vendors are pressed for
al explanation of where the dia-
mouds came from, their reply is al
ways me same; From the Lanca-
dous, beypnd Ell Boca del Cerro."
Bribery threats. intimidations, and
even torture nave been used in the
eadcayor 20 extract more explicit
Information, but wirhou, avail; and
Al .-mps ,o shadow the diamond
sellers nearly always result in apre-
mature funeral for the would-be
h -cuHe. Prospecting expeditions
have llen equipped 20 penetrate The
wi,ds OF the upper Usamacinta.
some OF ,lese came 10 grief inbloody
encounters with The unnamed Ian
cadons others became entangled in
TIL vast maze Of tropic swamps and
lagoon thar lie beyond the mountain
barriers, bu' none have ever found
siiah'ea ll-w 10 me mystery of
taa diamond mines. The Aztec
diamonds ale invariably white, of
small OF medium size, and nearly
always Gavi--s. To make the mys-
ttX more lrofound it frequently
happens tAa. he Maya offer for
sale diamonds hat have been cut
al Iol shed with no small degree
O. skill e.I accuracy.
Ina. ci..er the savage Lancadons
O. --. s.M.-c.viized Mayas possess
u. faI or The appliances 10 enable
th.l p. cur and polish The diamond,
is 20 id ~ many as incredible.
Tho. prefer 20 assume that The
gem formed part of the Hidden
treasure rf some buccaneer. That
the Ina ans nave discovered the
$40: -..e # one Of Inc pira.e
chiefs o. pas. centuries is not I'M
Uhir5a'i.; uur the hypothesis is
spoleC .y the fact that the AZ &c
diamonds We're known even before
pir cy began On the American Medi
terrau,an. There are we'll atrested
rec..ds Of i've finding of diamonds
III various paris OF Mexico and Qua
temala ~ the Conquistadores,
Moreover TO- should not be forgotten'l
that tie ancient inhabitants OF Mex
leo LAD a.Hned high degree of
mat .-y'iization; SO it is by
no u.us impossible that some of
II" ..s. trs Of the Azlccs may sill
survive IN remote and unvisited
por ne u me inferior wilderness.
JOHN l.. GOWAN, II Modera Alex
leo.
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