618 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 
David are excellent, and the city itself presents an attractive picture 
with whitewashed houses and overhanging red-tiled roofs, surrounded 
by a fertile plain, the high mountains in the distance. There are 
many signs of progress in David, and the inhabitants would cordially 
welcome Americans among them, a few of whom have already settled 
there, where conditions of life are found to be not at all unpleasant. 
The people of the surrounding districts are Indian half-breeds, very 
industrious and cleanly, much above the average standard. In 1732 
this section suffered terribly from an invasion of Indians inhabiting 
the Mosquito Gulf district, who completely overran it and committed 
all sorts of depredations. The towns of Chiriqui are Dolega, Reme- 
dios, Gualaca (gold mine), St. Felix (copper mine), Bugaba, Buga- 
bita, Alanje,and Caldara. Near the last-named town,a mere hamlet, 
was discovered the “ Piedra Pintal,”’ the inscription on it still re- 
maining a mystery, and is considered by some the supposed work of 
a race completely lost sight of. The carved gold, copper, and stone 
. ornaments, weapons, and utensils, etc., of the Chiriqui tombs have 
made their way to Paris and London, many having been collected 
by M. Zeltner, who was at one time the French consul at Panama, 
and were sent by him to France. The National Museum, Washing- 
ton, D. C., also has many small specimens, but most of the pottery is 
in the British Museum. Many of the rings and chains in the posses- 
sion of Panamanians have been copied and make exquisite pieces of 
jewelry, bringing high prices when sold. The portrayal of animals 
forms a large part of the work, especially were frogs, lizards, and 
snakes depicted. A very complete description of them is given by 
Bollaert (87). 
DEPARTMENT OF BOCAS DEL TORO. 
The remaining department of the Republic is that of Bocas del 
Toro, with a large town of the same name on an island off the coast 
above Chiriqui Lagoon and is a well known port to merchant vessels. 
Bocas has largely a foreign population, its trade being almost en- 
tirely in the hands of Americans or Europeans. About the vicinity 
are ranches with small single-track railroads on which the fruit, 
chiefly bananas, is transported from the interior. This district is 
still only developed to a small extent, and the whole Chiriqui Lagoon 
region is destined in the future to become one of the greatest fruit- 
raising centers of the Caribbean. Chiriqui Grande, a small place, 
is connected by a good trail to David, the construction of which, 
though only a trail, cost considerable. This is the only route which 
crosses the Isthmus except the Panama Railroad. The shores of the 
lagoon are low and marshy, but they are, nevertheless, inhabited by 
Indians and half-breeds, living in small scattered settlements. Many 
of them speak a Spanish that can not be understood by educated 
