COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 263 



a railroad runs as far as La Vega, a distance of 64 miles, whence it is 

 some 20 miles farther to Santiago. 



The first gold found by the Spaniards in America came from the 

 river Yaqui, north coast of Santo Domingo, which was called by 

 Columbus the Kio del Oro, or Kiver of Gold, from the richness of its 

 sands. It is said that golden particles adhered to the hoops of the 

 water casks when the sailors took water at the mouth of the river. 

 The richest deposits of gold, or rather the largest nuggets, were found 

 in tributaries of the Yaqui, such as the Yauico, on the bank of which 

 the fort, for the defense of the gold region, called Santo Tomas was 

 built and garrisoned by 50 men. 



Santo Tomas was the first fort erected in the interior of Santo 

 Domingo, and guarded the gold region of the famous Cibao. The site 

 of the fortress was traced by the Columbian Commissioner in 1892 and 

 photographed. At the base of the hill on which the fortress was built 

 runs a stream, the sands and gravel of which contained gold at the 

 time the Spaniards came, and even to-day some gold is obtained by the 

 people living there. 



The old fort, Concepcion de la Yega, was built by orders of Columbus 

 in 1494, shortly before or soon after the first great victory over the 

 Indians on the lloyal Yega. It lies some 6 miles from the present town 

 of La Y^ega, and there yet remains enough to show the original plan, 

 though it is entirely in ruins except the northeast angle, where the 

 circular bastion is nearly perfect. Here the walls are about 10 feet 

 high, 6 feet thick, with a space inside of 10 feet. The old fort was 

 probably about 200 feet square, built of brick, and with circular 

 bastions at the four corners. The fortress itself is the only structure 

 of ancient Concepcion sufficiently preserved to indicate its original 

 outline. It was intended to keep in subjection the Indians of Santo 

 Domingo. A lombard was discovered in the fort, and has been used 

 for many years in the firing of salutes in honor of the virgin of Santo 

 Cerro. 



Santiago de los Caballeros, in the interior of Santo Domingo, was 

 settled by hidalgos, Spaniards of noble blood, who obtained permis 

 sion from the King of Spain to affix this distinguished appellation, 

 u de los Caballeros&quot; (of the gentlemen) to their city. Hence, there are 

 yet resident there the descendants of some of the conquistadoi-es, who 

 have retained at least a portion of the arms and martial equipment of 

 their ancestors, and from them were obtained several old Toledos that 

 were exhibited. The blades are vouched for as genuine from Toledo 

 in Spain, which has produced as famous work as Damascus, and which 

 were carried by the conquerors of America, and did valiant service 

 against the Indians. They are not numerous, and the most of them 

 that can be found are supplied with new hilts, of rude and native 

 workmanship, making them unique and valuable. 



The present town of La Yega has no ruins or antiquities, being a 



