PANAMA AND ITS PEOPLE—BELL. 617 
DEPARTMENT OF VERAGUAS. 
Veraguas, lying between Chiriqui on the west and Colon, Cocle, and 
Los Santos on the east, stretches from sea to sea, though at present 
it has only a small coast line on the Atlantic, into which flow the 
boundary rivers, the Belen and the Concepcion, and between them the 
Viejo Veraguas. Veraguas was explored by Nicuesa and called 
“ Castella del Oro.” An immense amount of gold was taken from 
the mines in the years following its discovery at Montijo, El Mineral 
de Veraguas, and Sona (the last is operated at present time). Valdes 
says that as early as 1570 200,000 negroes were working in the mines 
of Veraguas, which, at that date, however, included those of Chiriqui 
and neighboring provinces as well. 
The chief place in Veraguas is Santiago, somewhat smaller than 
Penonome, situated on a plain 105 meters above the sea, having in 
consequence a fine climate. Here are preserved many old customs, 
modes of speech, and a strict moral code, such as have not been 
observed elsewhere on the Isthmus, derived undoubtedly from the 
aristocratic Spanish ancestors of the inhabitants who settled in this 
section. While Santiago is on the main line of travel from Panama 
to David, it remains a secluded, old-fashioned little city. The chief 
industries of Veraguas are mining, stock raising, and some cotton 
manufacture. 
DEPARTMENT OF CHIRIQUI. 
Chiriqui extends from Veraguas on the east to the Costa Rican 
border, and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Department of 
Bocas del Toro on the north. Chiriqui was not created a separate 
department till 1849, and came into special prominence a number of 
years ago (1859) after the discovery of great quantities of gold and 
archeological treasures in the old Indian tombs or huaccas. From 
one cemetery alone was taken $50,000 worth of gold (35). Chiriqui 
exports gold, copper, salt, ebony, dyes, spices, medicinal herbs, to- 
bacco, coffee, cane, and cocoa. Coal is also found in some quantities 
on the island of Muerto, but the chief supply of this mineral is from 
the neighboring Department of Bocas. David, the capital, having a 
httle smaller population also than Penonome, is, next to Panama 
itself, the most important place on the Isthmus—built on the site 
of an ancient hermitage which was connected by trail with San 
Lorenzo, a very early settlement. The climate and location of 
4“ Tans le district de Canazas (ouest) il y des mines, en exploitation et 
dautres qui sont a l’état de projet. Ce district a une superficie d’environ 160 
milles carrés, au nord, il est borné par les districts de Santa Fé et de S. Fran- 
cisco, au sud, par el Rio San Pablo, a Vouest, par Rios Piebras et Caflaza, et a 
Vest, par la riviérre Santa Maria et Je district de la Mesa” (19), 
