WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 333 



the Provinces of the Ytunos, Quenequenes, and Oromiras, with large 

 settlements ; these were explored by Capt. Rodrigo Alonso in the 

 year 1604. He made sample tests along the river banks and located 

 many gold mines and found great indications of free gold. On one 

 of these rivers which fall into the Darien, we are informed that 

 there is the rich temple of the god Dabaybe, which means gold lion ; 

 it contains untold wealth, offered by the savages since time imme- 

 morial to their god, for that is the greatest sanctuary they have in 

 all those provinces. But although many have tried to reach this 

 sanctuary of the heathen, they have failed, for it is a very wide 

 country, with high crags and trackless mountains. 



997. This country extends from the Uraba coast on the Atlantic 

 to the port of Buena Ventura on the Pacific; between these two 

 oceans on the W. is the district of Panama, with coasts on both. 

 There are pearls not only on the Panama islands but in some of the 

 inland rivers, for some have been found in the possession of the 

 Choco Indians, who inhabit these provinces over a wide territory, 

 but with few settlements. These Indians live in pile dwellings which 

 they build on the highest and loftiest ridges in their country, which 

 is good and rough. 



998. The weapons they use in their wars are light lances made of 

 palm which they fire with great skill and accuracy long distances ; 

 but they have great fear of firearms, and run away from them, 

 especially when their lances have given out. These savages are de- 

 praved morally, treacherous, and highway robbers ; they do not keep 

 their word. They have forced the abandonment of the town of Toro 

 in the State of Popayan, whose gold mines are among the richest 

 of the Indies, and are lost for that reason. They have likewise fre- 

 quently raided Antioquia, harming and kilHng its residents, as well 

 as Indian villages in its jurisdiction, and mining camps. 



999. Many courageous captains have gone in there to subdue the 

 tribes of these savages, and have been lost. The reason is that the 

 country is poorly provided with supplies, like most of the gold-mining 

 country ; the settlements are few and far between, and although there 

 are supplies of corn and other provisions of good quality stored in 

 them, they are scanty. 



Chapter XVI 



Continuing the Description of the State of Antioquia and of the 

 Customs of the Savages. 



1000. When the Spaniards come in to subdue them, the first 

 settlement or pile dwelling from which they are spied, is set on fire 



