Doc. No. 75. 



199 



^eknrfe of San Juan by the English, are the officers of the customs for 

 this department. 



The water of the lake opposite the fort and fronting the opening of the 

 ^an luan is very shallow, not exceeding six or seven feet in depth for the 

 distance of a mile and upwards from the shore. Near this point the 

 Kio Frio (Gold river) comes in from the south. It is a large stream, and 

 is represented to have two fathoms water for a distance of forty miles from 

 its mouth. A tribe of Indians called the Guatosos live upon its banks, 

 who refuse ull intercourse with the whites, and permit no ingress to their 

 territories. Some explorations were undertaken up this river by Don 

 Trinidad Salegar, comandante of San Carlos, in the early part of the 

 year 1849, but he was attacked by these Indians, severely wounded, and 

 compelled to return. 



The opening of the San Juan is probably three hundred yards and up- 

 wards broad, which width the stream maintains with great uniformity to 

 the Rio Savalos, a distance of twenty miles; for this extent the current is 

 slight — according to Baron Bulow, not exceeding one and a half mile the 

 hour. The channel is wide, and the depth of the water from two to four 

 fathoms. The banks are low, and the back country flat and swampy. 

 Some sluggish streams come in from both north and south, but they are 

 almost hidden by the overhanging trees. 



At the Rio Savalos commences the Rapides del Toro, which are about 

 tliree-fourths of a mile long. The water, of course, varies in depth with 

 the different seasons of the year. At the time of my passage, it was, 

 certainly for most of its extent, less than a fathom of water. The banks 

 upon both sides are firm and high, and the palm gives place to other and 

 larger trees. Bnlow gives the current at one hundred and eighty to two 

 hundred yards per minute, but I esteem it something more. From this 

 point to the Rapides del Castillo is six miles. The intervening banks are 

 high, and the land well adapted for settlements. At the rapids considera- 

 ble ridges come down to the river upon both sides. Upon the extreme 

 point of that upon the south bank is situated the ruins of the old castle of 

 San Juan, now called Castillo Viejo.^^ The eminence upon which it 

 stands resembles that of Chepultepec, and the ruins are still massive and 

 imposing. At the base of the hill are the remains of the water- batteries; 

 the works completely commanded the river. This position was captured 

 by the English in 1780; Lieutenant (afterwards Lord) Nelson participated 

 in the attack. The rapids here are short, but swift — belter deserving the 

 name of falls than rapids. Bungos cannot ascend loaded; when they have 

 cargoes, part of the same has to be removed and carried past the falls. The 

 boats are then Cracked, or pushed up against the current, by main force. 

 My bungo was upwards of three hours in getting as many hundred yards. 

 This rapid, without artificial modifications, would present nearly an insu- 

 perable obstacle to all kinds of navigation deserving the name. It might 

 be made practicable, with little trouble, for small steamers of light draught, 

 such as are used upon some of the small western rivers. Three or four 

 miles below the Rapides del Castillo are tho Rapides los Valos and Mico, 

 which may, however, be regarded as one. The cun-ent here is two hun- 

 dred or three hundred yards per minute; the bottom rough and rocky, and 

 navigation in bungos difficult. The water does not appear to be more 

 than five or six feet deep for any considerable distance; the banks corre- 

 spond with those above the castle. 



