The Neshoba Democrat., 1910-05-12
PANAMA J


the border line of Costa Rica and Chiriqu have al
ways been hostile and in several instances have
risen against the whites and massacred them The
Talamanca Indians, who still inhabit these parts.
were especially bellicose.
The existence of the "Tsingal" mine has never
been doubted, nor is it considered the product Of
the fertile imagination of the natives Of Chiriqui
At Cana. in the province of Panama, at the pres.
ent time there is being operated gold mine for.
merly worked by the Spaniards Several years
ago. while blasting in of the galleries of the
Cana mine aperture was made into what proved
to be buried the remains of a gold mine worked
several centuries ago. Leather buckets, with
straps that fit around the forehead and around the
shoulders Of the mine workers and instruments Of
steel were found In good state of preservation
The mouth Of this mine had been so completely
hidden that mining operations had been carried
on for years almost paralleling the entrance shaft
without the engineers suspecting its proximity
Records Of the old Cana mine in existence but
its exact location had never been fixed before
Gold can be found in almost all the rivers of
Chiriqui. In 1859 there discovered the first
Indian graves, from which were taken gold orna-
ments, stone figures, arrow points, etc. Since this
time there have been found in Chiriqui hundreds
of these Indian graves, known to the present day
natives by the name of "guacas." The writer him
self opened up one grave from which he took 18
pieces of pottery.
1t is welknown fact that the half-Indian ma.
tives of Chiriqui, knowing the whereabouts of a
IL alone
the gold found only in such quantities as their
needs may require. They are suspicious of the
white man, this suspicion and distrust being inbred
in them and handed down in tradition from their
ancestors, who In truth had cause to hate that
race hunting and exploring party that recently
returned from the vicinity of Buenos Aires and
Boruca in the heart of the Indian country to the
west OF David, reported that although they were
not openly attacked by the Indians yet they were
conscious OF being constantly watched; that food
was scarcely obtainable and that on several occa
sions they found the water of the springs mudded
apparently but few minutes before their arrival
If this report be true, and there is every reason to
believe that it is, inasmuch it is but repetition
of former ones of similar nature then It is ou,te
evident that the party were not cognizant Of tha
customs, likings and language of the natives with
whom they had to deal.
Odd inscriptions and decorations are found
carved on volcanic powders in many parts of Chi
rlqui, and these inscriptions, according to the In
dians indicate the burying grounds of the cacioues
Many oe thess decorations appear on the pottery
found in the graves and in the ethnologcal report
referred to a-o classified
Gold-bearing copper ore has been found in MANY
districts in Chiriqu especially in that of Bugaba
IN which "Tisngal" is in all probability located
the analysis Of which has shown Is per cent con-
per bearing two per cent. gold.
The Panamanian government is at the nresen+
time planning the construction of railroad from,
David In Chiriqui to the city of Panama which
when built, will greatly open up this part of the
country and make 1t more accessible. The Indians
OF Ch1riqui Will give way before the advance of
civilization and the earth will give up another Of
her treasures so well hidden for centuries bv No.
lures barriers aided by the avenging hand of the
vanquished American