616 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 
and now, once again stands a desolate, moss-covered crumbling ruin, 
a reminder only of the glory that was once Spain’s. 
The rivers, Cocle, Los Indios, and Belen, flowing into the Atlantic 
in the western part of Colon, have been known for centuries to wash 
down gold. Their sources in the high sierras are practically un- 
known. The old mine of San Antonio, on the Cocle, at one time had 
an output of about $40,000 a year, though it has been closed for a long 
period. With modern mining machinery, this, as other mines on the 
Isthmus, could undoubtedly be made to yield a much larger sum. On 
the banks of the Cocle, also, an attempt has been recently made by a 
Belgian company to raise bananas on a large scale, and, though not 
fully exploited as yet, it is expected to make good returns eventually. 
A great difficulty is encountered in the fact that the river is not easy 
to navigate, though other conditions, such as soil, etc., are extremely 
favorable to such enterprises. 
THE DEPARTMENT OF COCLE. 
In point of antiquity the Department of Cocle has a foremost 
place, for here on the Rio Chico was the second settlement on the 
Isthmus proper. The original town of Nata was destroyed in 1529 
by the Indians, who were especially warlike in this region, and was 
rebuilt in 1531, when it was christened “ Santiago de las Caballeros 
de Nata.” The city attained much wealth and splendor in the colo- 
nial period. The church, still in existence, is in good condition and 
of excellent architecture, having a fine tower, in which are spiral 
steps, cut in the stone. To-day Nata is a small place with a poor 
population and practically no trade, quite different from the little 
town of Aguadulce, its neighbor, which is near the Estrella mine. 
This section is a good stock-raising country, and a quantity of hides 
are exported by way of Aguadulce to the coast. Near this place is 
the hacienda of Panama’s last revolutionary spirit, Gen. Estaban 
Huertas, who retired here to take up stock raising, and who received 
also a generous pension from the last administration. 
The most important place in this department is Penonome, with a 
population of 15,833 (46), making it the largest city on the Isthmus 
outside of Colon and Panama. Penonome has two churches, schools, 
barracks, public buildings, and enjoys a large trade, especially in 
grain, rubber, coffee. and straw hats. 
LOS SANTOS. 
Los Santos, the department south of Cocle and east of Veraguas, 
borders Parita Bay and is a fertile agricultural country, with a good 
climate. The principal towns are Los Santos, Pese, Las Minas, 
Las Tablas, and Parita. A good deal of salt is exported from the 
mines of the province, and gold is also found in the western section. 
