Year: 1859

OenHemen-ln former letter to you regarding Al


Huacas or Golden Graves of Central America,


their existence and some short history Of the,


as far North as Nicaragua. Some preliminary remark


IN regard to the mineral wealth OF this country ma


not, perhaps, be amiss showing strong probabilit


OF the abundance Of wealth that must eventually b


taken from the innumerable graves found everywher


here 1t is wellestablished fact, that the riches


gold mines in all Central America are found in th


departments Of segovia, Matagalpa and ChontaIe.


which border Lake Nicaragua to the North and Eas


This vast expanse Of country embraces almost ever


climate, as it commences with gradual rise on th


shores OF the lake and stretches forth in prairie


beautiful forest towards the mountains where at tn


hight OF three thousand feet those magnificent tabl


lands are found which produce, at the same time, al


the products OF the tropical regions and more tenn


perate cmes. Along the banks Of the streams wa


the habitation Of these aborgnes no doubt, as thes


are almost the only regions where gold is known Il


abound for some distance North and South, and n,
| doubt the source from which nearly all the wealtl


that is being extracted from the graves of Chirqu
| was taken, as also for the ornaments that Gil th


tens OF thousands Of graves everywhere in thos


countries and scattered over valley, bill and plain


throughout this beautiful region, which looks dowr


upon Lake Nicaragua. But the great field of them


and one involved in greater mystery than all others


IS that to be found the Island Of Maderos, twir


sister, as IT were, Of Ometepec. and connected witt


by narrow neck of land which is barely above


the surface OF the water when the lake is fullest.
lhese Islands, any one who has crossed the Mica


ragnan transit will remember, to the northeast


OF virgin Bay, distant about II miles, and upon ask


ing the question, what are they called the answer
ls sure TO be Ometepec although they are two sepa
rate and distinct peaks, more resembling immense
sugar loaVes than anything can compare them to-
as viewed from distance. On a nearer approach


however, they are found to be formed in most
peculiar manner, having the appearance of perfect


eVe along the lake shore, but. as you progress to-
wards the interior, rising gradually but soon with
more abrupt ascent until the side of the sugar loaf is
reached, when 1t becomes almost perpendicular.
These plains and mountain sides are covered with
every species of valuable timber known to tropical
climes but the great feature of interest to me in
connection with those islands, has ever been the
traditions and supersttions connected with Maderos
the southernmoss of the two, and whose name is
almost entirely unknown to Americans who were long
resident in the country, unless they understood thor.
oughy the Spanish language.


Ask the question: what is it called among the In.
dians, and hush OF silence will ensue that will con-
vince you in a moment that you have touched on
sacred ground. Nothing will induce them to speak
OF 1t after, and should you propose visit, and par
ticuIay to the southeastern portion of the island
molly horror is evinced which conyinces you that
subject regarding which the deepest superstition ex.
lists has been touched upon. The island is quite as
large as Omeepec and yet there are but few Indians
upon it, and these only upon the northern and east
fn RI
strangers from the other island.


scarce native of the surrounding country ever
dsemoarks on that part of the island, although the
lake is daily traversed by boats trading from one end
to the other, from the very general belief that some
dire calamity will befall any one who shall exhibit
tne hardhood to set foot on shore and thus defy the
spirits OF those who guard the treasures there buried
and who the supersttious report as seeing in i'm.
mense numbers in their idolatrous professions be-
meath the thick foliage when they have been benghted
OIL the shores. Those, however, who have read
squiers' work on Nicaragua will remember that be
had gained some idea of the wealth of the ANTIQUITIES
on this island and that after great persuasion backed
by long purse, he succeeded in getting party of
the Indians to go with him and secure few of the
statues, which he some time afterward shipped to
New York, where they were admired by thousands
and considered BY good judges to be fully equal to
the early Grecian statuary works of art. Squiers
gave numerous cuts of others that he saw and from
all it will readily be seen that it was no ordinary
race who sculptured and placed these wonders in
such profusion, particularly on this island. More
recent examinations show that the whole southwest
ern slope is apparently vast burial ground covered
With broken pottery and ststuary, in all stages of
preservation, giving a sufficient evidence that the
secrecy with which the Indians treat everything con-
1ected with this island arose originally from the fact
hat they wished to conceal from the spaniards the
knowledge Of the immense deposits of the precious
METAL which were buried in these graves, knowing.
IS they did, that nothing was sacred from their
grasp.


Here, no doubt will be found in greater abundance
han in any other portion of Central America. the
wealth sought, and with much success to be taken
i the present time out OF these aboriginal graves.
The great riches of the Chontales and Matapalna
mines point to them as the source from whence all
bis vast amount of wealth was originally taken and
he proximity of these islands and the great 1eoree
i mystery that is sought to be cast around them.
1il! no doubt be found to have been caused bv the
ear that these greater deposits should be found these
catacombs of Central America" as celebrated
panlsh writer has termed them, and thus all the
orrors that were predicted to be the fate of those
Tho should reveal their existence would most Ger
ainly befal the few miserable Indians, sole nos.
essors of this rich heritage Of SOIL Situated as these


ands are, with not more than 1900 beings, all told.
Though capable Of supporting population of half |
million, on which the banana and the plantain AZ |
read are found wild in almost the whole of the |
fountain sdes provided with game Of every species
nd cattle in abundance, what is to prevent party
those who are seeking to improve their condition
y trip to those regions, from making this their
oint Of destination, and with almost certainty of
'alizing their most sanguine hopes of success.
The soon to be opened Nicaragua route will afford


fine opportunity to those who wish to prospect
lese or make trip further South to those of CHR.
lu, as the Pacific Mail Steamship Companys
Gamer Columbus, carrying the mail from Panama
Guatemala, touches at all the ports along the
'ast, including those of San Juan Del Sur and CHR
lul Ut DaVid' F.B.


MAN DROWNED AT NIAGARA FALLs.-A snecia,
spatch to the Lockport Journal and Courier, saws
lat a man named Wilmer, owning flour mill on
lie bank of the river, near the Niagara Falls suspen
on Bridge, while adjusting shaft that leads from
lie mill to the river, fell into the rapids and was
rowned on the 18th. There were four men working
ith him at the time but conld render hin, ~