Mexico Missouri message., 1910-05-12
PANAMA J

the border line Of Costa RIGA and Chriqui 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 becose.
The existence of the "Tisingal" mine has never
been doubted, is it considered the product Of
the fertile imagination of the natives of Chiriqu
At Cana in the province of Panama, at the pres
ent time there is being operated a gold mine for
mery worked by the Spaniards. Several years
ago, while blasting in of the galleries of the
Cana mine an 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 a good state of preservation.
The mouth of this mine had been 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 can be found in almost all the rivers of
Chiriqui. In 1853 there were 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 grave from which he took 10
pieces of pottery.
1t is a wel1nown fact that the halfIndian ma
tives of Chiriqui, knowing the whereabouts of a
rich "guacal" prefer to work it alone and to sell
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 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
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 reason to
believe that it is, nasmuch It is but repetition
of former of similar nature, then It 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 are found
carved on volcanic powders in many parts of Chi
riQui and these inscriptions, according to the In
dams, indicate the buryng grounds of the cacques
Many of these decorations appear on the pottery
found in the graves and in the chronological report
referred to are classified.
Collaborating copper has been found in many
districts in Chiriqui. especially in that of Bugaba.
in which "TislngaP is in all probability located.
the analysis of which has shown 10 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, viii greatly open up this part of the
country and make II more accessible. The Indians
Of Chiriqu will give way before the advance of
civilization and the earth will give up another of
her treasures so well hidden for centuries by ma
lures barriers aided by the aYenging hand of the
vanQuished American.