The new era., 1910-05-19
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the border line of Costa Rca and Chirqui 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 'Tisingal" mine has never
been doubted, nor is 1t 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 one of the galleries of the
Cana mine an aperture was made into what proved
to be buried the remains of 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
for years almost paralleling the entrance shaft
without the engineers suspecting its proximity.
Records of the old Cana mine are in existence. but
Its exact location had never been fixed before.
Gold be found In almost all the rivers OF
Chiriqui. In 1859 there were discovered the first
Indian graves. from which taken gold orna-
ments, stone figures arrow points. etc. Since this
time there have been found in Chriqui 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 1s
pieces of pottery.
1t is a well-known fact that the half-IndIan
tives of Chiriqui. knowing the whereabouts Of a
rich "guaca" prefer to work 1t alone and to sell
the gold found only in such quantities as their
needs may require. Iney are suspicious OF tne
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 muddied
apparently but few minutes before their arrival
If this report be true and there is every to
believe that it is, inasmuch it is but repetition
of former of similar nature. then 1t is quite
evident that the party were not cognizant of the
customs likings and language Of the natives with
whom they had to deal
Odd inscriptions and decorations found
carved on volcanic powders in many parts Of Chi
riqui and these inscriptions, according to the In
dians indicate the burying grounds Of the cacques
Many of these decorations appear the pottery
found in the graves and in the chronological report
referred to classified
Collaborating copper has been found in many
districts Chiriqui especially in that of Bugaba.
In which "Tlsngal" is in all probability located.
the analysis of which has shown Is per cent. cop.
per bearing two per cent. gold
The Panamanian government Is at the present
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 Chiriqui will give way before the advance Of
civilization and the earth will give up another Of
her treasures well hidden for centuries by
ture barriers aided by the avenging hand of the
vanquished American