306 MEXICO, CENTEAL AMERICA, WEST INDIES. 



Talamancas of the seaboard between Puerto Limon and Almirante Bay appear to 

 bave also been formerly converted, for many of their ceremonies are of Spanish 

 orio-in. But they still worship the sun and stars, the rocks and winds, the running 

 waters and the sea. 



The Blancos, a people of Cabecar or Bribri origin, expose the bodies of their 

 dead on palm-stands one or two yards above the ground, and bury them after 

 three years, when they are perfectly dry. Some food and precious objects are 

 at the same time placed in the grave. 



In these graves have been found some remarkable little gold figures, which 

 attest the ancient civilisation of the natives, and their lamentable degradation 

 under their white rulers. Many of these artistic objects have unfortunately been 

 melted down and coined at the Costa Rican mint. The jadeites and other green 

 stones known by the Mexican name of chalchilviites come chiefly from Guanacaste 

 and the Nicoj'a peninsula. Objects of pre-Columbian culture, formerly supposed 

 to be rare in the northern provinces, are now found in thousands, especially about 

 the environs of Cartago, where stood the ancient city of Purapura. 



Topography. 



Since the middle of the present century the population of the formerly almost 

 uninhabited Guanacaste region has increased fourfold. Its vast savannas, where 

 millions of cattle might be raised ; its forests, abounding in valuable timber and 

 cabinet woods ; its gulf and harbours ; lastly, its convenient position between the 

 Nicaraguan peninsula and the Costa Rican plateau — give promise of a great future 

 for this hitherto neglected province. Its capital, Liberia, formerly Guanacaste, 

 lies at the south foot of the Orosi volcanoes towards the middle of the fertile 

 depression at the neck of the Nicoya peninsula. 



In the interior of the peninsula are situated the populous towns of Santa Cruz 

 and Nicoya, the latter the larger of the two and formerly residence of the 

 friendly chief who welcomed the Spanish conquerors, and was baptised with all 

 his people. On the shores of the gulf are obtained both pearl and edible oysters, 

 said to be the best on the whole west coast of America. 



Puntarenas (Pitnta Arenas, or "Sandy Point") stands on a tongue of sand at 

 the mouth of the little River Barranca, which has deposited vast quantities of 

 eruptive matter in the Gulf of Nicoya. The inlet is too shallow for large vessels, 

 which have to ride at anchor in the roadstead. Yet Puntarenas has since 1814 

 been the outlet for all the foreign trade of Costa Rica on the Pacific side. 



Before that year the Pacific seaport of the province stood some six miles 

 farther south, near the thermal springs of La Caldera, between the Barranca and 

 Jesus-Maria estuaries. Before the opening of the railway, which has its terminus 

 at Puntarenas, it was proposed to establish the port south of the Rio Grande, in the 

 picturesque bay of Tarcoles, at the foot of Mount Ilerradura. But the project was 

 never realised owing to the dangers of the bar and unhealthy climate of Tarcoles. 

 In the neighbourhood are some extremely thick beds of anthracite. 



From Puntarenas the railway ascends the scarp of the plateau to Esparza 



