WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 307 



coast ; in these and the others under this jurisdiction there are more 

 than 4,000 Negro sawyers and workmen employed only in this work 

 and in building ships and frigates, for there are fine and famous 

 shipyards in this Province of Veragua and its Pacific coast. 



904. This province contains quantities of excellent pasturage for 

 cattle and swine. The capital of this Province and State is the city 

 of Santa Fe, which has as many as 30 Spanish residents and some 

 Indians. Nine leagues farther on is the new village of Los Remedios, 

 with as many as 80 houses, of Spaniards and Indians. El Montijo 

 lies another 9 leagues beyond ; and at 20 leagues along the same 

 route W. and parallel, is the city of Santiago de Aljanje, called 

 Chiriqui, built on the banks of its river, which gives it its name. 

 The city contains as many as 80 Spanish residents and some Indians. 



905. All these places mentioned were established on the Pacific 

 coast, because most of the country N. is in hostile Indian territory, 

 except for a few small camps, of which the rich mines discovered 

 there have occasioned the rise and the disappearance. The city of 

 Chiriqui is the last settlement in the Province and State of Veragua, 

 for all the territory W., up to the Province of Costa Rica, belongs 

 to heathen Indians. These give passage and provisions to the traders 

 traversing those provinces with mules and other goods, taking their 

 pay in knives, machetes, axes, and other commodities. From Chiriqui 

 to Costa Rica it is 125 leagues ; practically all of this is inhabited by 

 heathen Indians. 



906. Near these Provinces of Veragua lie those of Guaimi and 

 Duy on the Atlantic coast, through which the Rio de La Estrella 

 flows ; this is very rich in gold, as is all its mining region. These 

 Provinces of Guaimi and Duy border on the extensive Province of 

 Tegucigalpa, which is very rich in gold and other valuables. The 

 Indians are quite civilized, and have the same dress and customs as 

 the Mexicans. 



907. There are in Panama Royal Officials, viz : Paymaster, Trea- 

 surer, and Factor. These administer the Royal Patrimony in the 

 district of this Circuit Court, and go down to Puerto Bello for the 

 arrival and departure of the galleons. 



