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The National Geographic Magazine 



narrower and narrower limits until finally 

 reduced to their present territory. That 

 they have long dwelt in their present 

 habitat is evidenced by the numerous 

 shell-heaps that have been accumulated 

 about the more favorable camping places 

 along the bays and inlets of this coast. 



These shell-heaps or kitchen-middens 

 have been observed attaining to a height 

 of twelve or fifteen feet and to more than 

 one hundred feet in length. The time 

 consumed in the accumulation of such 

 quantities of shells indicates for them a 

 considerable antiquity. 



LOCATION OF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN 

 NICARAGUA AND COSTA RICA 



By Arthur P. Davis, Chief Hydrographer, Isthmian Canal 



Commission 



THE promise which the construc- 

 tion of a water-way gives of 

 increased development and com- 

 mercial importance to the Central Ameri- 

 can republics, has been a source of con- 

 siderable jealousy between Nicaragua and 

 Costa Rica, and until recently there was 

 continual dispute over the boundary line 

 between these republics, each being anx- 

 ious to preserve and increase its terri- 

 torial interests in proximity to the pro- 

 posed canal route. Both states had been 

 wrought up by years of fruitless negotia- 

 tions to a state of readiness for war in 

 defence of what they considered their 

 rights. In fact, war had actually been 

 declared by Nicaragua on November 25, 

 1857, when, through the mediation of 

 the Republic of Salvador, a final effort 

 to avert it was made. Another conven- 

 tion was held and a definite treaty was 

 concluded between the two republics in 

 April, 1858, Article 2 of which runs as 

 follows : 



" The dividing line of the two republics, 

 starting from the northern sea, shall 

 commence from the extremity of Castilla 

 Point, at the mouth of the Rio San Juan 

 of Nicaragua, and shall continue its course 

 along the right margin of said river to a 

 point 3 English miles distalit from the 



Castillo Vie jo, measured from the ex- 

 terior fortifications of said castle to the 

 point indicated. From there a curve will 

 start, the centre of which shall be said 

 works, and shall preserve a distance of 3 

 English miles from it throughout its de- 

 velopment, terminating at a point which 

 shall be 2 miles distant from the bank 

 of the river, upstream from the castle. 

 From there the line shall continue in the 

 direction of the Sapoa River, which emp- 

 ties into Lake Nicaragua, following a 

 course almost 2 miles distant from the 

 right margin of the Rio San Juan, with 

 its circumvolutions, to its origin at the 

 lake, and of the right margin of the lake 

 itself to the said Sapoa River, where this 

 line, parallel to said margins, will termi- 

 nate. From the point of intersection with 

 the Sapoa River, which, from what has 

 been said, should be 2 miles distant from 

 the lake, a right astronomical line shall be 

 drawn to the central point of Salinas Bay, 

 in the southern sea, where the demarca- 

 tion of the territory of the two republics 

 shall terminate." 



This boundary was for many years un- 

 surveyed, and after the treaty of 1858 a 

 change occurred in the regimen of the 

 San Juan, by which the main portion of 

 its waters, instead of flowing to the sea: 



