USE OF GOLD AiND OTHER METALS IN ANCIENT CHIRIQUI. 



By William H. Holmes. 



GENERAL DISCUSSION. 



Until comparatively recent times the province of Ohiriqui has re- 

 mained almost unknown to the world at large. The Isthmns was trav- 

 ersed a number of times by the conquerors, who published accounts of 

 their discoveries, but it was reserved for the period of railroad and 

 canal explorations to give trustworthy accounts of its character and 

 inhabitants. 



The situation of Chiriqui is unique. Forming, politically, a part of 

 South America, it belongs in reality to the Xortli American continent. 

 It occupies a part of the great southern flexure of the Isthmus at a 

 point where the shore lines begin finally to turn toward the north. 

 Costa Bica lies to the west and the jirovince of Veragua bounds it 

 upon the east. 



The antiquarian literature of the province is extremely limited, being 

 confined to brief sketches, based tor the most part upon the testimony 

 of transient visitors, gold hunters, and Government explorers, who took 

 but little note of the unpretentious relics of past ages. As there are 

 few striking monuments, the attention of archiieologists was not called 

 to the primeval history of man in this region, and until recently the 

 Isthmus was supposed to have remained practically unoccupied by that 

 grouj) of cultured nations whose works in Peru and Mexico excite the 

 wonder of the world. But, little by little, it has come out that at some 

 period of the past the province was thickly populated and by races 

 possessed of no mean culture. One of the most important additions to 

 our kuowdedge of the province and its archffiologic treasures is furnished 

 in the manuscript notes of Mr. J. A. McXiel, who made the greater 

 part of the collection now deposited in the National Museum. This ex- 

 plorer has i)ersonally supervised the examination of many thousands 

 of graves and has forwarded the bulk of his collections to the United 

 States. His explorations have occupied a number of years, during 

 which time he has undergone much privation and has displayed much 

 enthusiasm in pursuing the rather thorny ])athway of scientific research. 



At the present time this district is inhabited chiefly by Indians and 

 natives of mixed blood, who carry on grazing and agriculture to a 

 limited extent, but subsist largely upon the natural i)roductb of the 

 country. These people are generally thought to have no knowledge or 



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