128 REPORT — 1867. 



easily worked wood), venaca (a light sort of boxwood), &c. The Atlantic side is 

 very humid — indeed, white residents jocularly remark that it rains thirteen months 

 in the year ; but it is not unhealthy, and the strong north-east trade-winds temper 

 the heat of the climate. The Pacific coast region is contrasted with the opposite 

 Bide by the sharp distinction between the wet and dry seasons, and the stunted 

 gi-owth of the trees. Gold was first discovered in 1850, and was worked in a rude 

 manner near San Juan. It was not, however, till 1864 that political and other 

 circumstances permitted of an accurate examination of the mining distiict by a 

 party sent out from England, including Mr. W. C. Paul, a mining engineer. The 

 exploration of the forest-clad district commenced at San Miguelito, near the 

 western extremity of Lake Nicaragua. A narrow tract leads hence, via Acoyapa, 

 Lovogo and Libertad, to the mining district, which lies a little to the east of the 

 watershed between the lakes and the Atlantic, and near the Eiver Mico, a branch 

 of the Blewfields. The San Juan mine, close to the Mico, was examined, and 

 found to be of rich promise, but the method of working it was very inefficient. 

 Holes 25 feet deep were dug, and adits driven on each side of them until water 

 was met with, which caused the abandonment of the excavation, although the lode 

 becomes richer as depth is increased. Various excursions were made in the vicinity 

 of Libertad, and the existence of valuable lodes of gold and silver satisfactorily 

 established. The Indian village of Kinalala, at the head of the navigable waters 

 of the Blewfields river, is the nearest point of embarkation direct for the Atlantic. 

 The absence of a certain, speedy, and secure means of communication with the sea- 

 coast is the only serious difficulty which mining enterprise will have to encounter 

 in the development of these newly discovered mineral resources of Nicaragua. 



On the Colony of New Scotland, in Southern Africa. By J. J. Peatt. 

 This was a description of an elevated district on the eastern slopes of the 

 Drakensburgh mountains, north of Natal, which has lately been opened for Euro- 

 pean immigration by the Government of the Trans- Vaal Republic. The climate 

 was described to be good, and the land suitable for pastoral pui-poses. 



Exploration of the Isthmus of Barien, with a view to discovering a xyractical 



line for a Ship ' Canal. By M. Ltjcien de Puydt. 

 This paper communicated the scientific results of two explorations of the Isth- 

 mus of Darien, made by the author in the years 1861 and 1865, with the object 

 of discovering a practicable line for a ship canal to connect the two oceans. His 

 researches in the first expedition were directed towards the line proposed some 

 seventeen years ago by Dr. CuUen, between the Gulf of St. Miguel and Caledonia 

 Bay, which had been insufficiently explored by the international expedition sent 

 out about that time. The result of this first journey was to confirm the con- 

 clusion arrived at by Mr. Gisborn in 1851, namely, that no practicable line exists 

 for an interoceauic canal in this direction. The expedition led by M. de Piiydt 

 thereupon returned to France, and in 1864 he was charged by the French Govern- 

 ment to organize another party, for the pui-pose of thoroughly examining the low 

 rauge of the Andes about sixty miles to the south of the former line, where several 

 small streams discharge themselves into the Atlantic, near the northern arms of 

 the river Atrato. The expedition was formed in New Granada, and, after a toil- 

 some exploration of several months, in 1865 the author succeeded in discovering 

 a break in the Andes, at the upper course of the river Talela, which renders 

 possible the long desired object. One of the chief obstacles anticipated was the 

 opposition of the suspicious and warlike Indian tribes ; but M. de Puydt, by judi- 

 cious management, contrived to enlist their goodwill so far as not to oppose his 

 designs, although they refused to afford him any assistance or information. 

 Having landed his party and materiel, he ascended the Tanela as far as practi- 

 cable, and tlien proceeded to clear a pathway tlirough the dense forest towards the 

 Cordillera. The laborious task occupied about a month. The author then (Au- 

 gust 25), with six companions, left the track, and threaded the f^orest to the Sierra 

 de Mali, and in the course of a few days came upon a break in the ridge, ele- 

 vated only from 100 to 140 feet above the sea-level. The gap was traversed, and 



