From the Journal of Dr. M. W. Stirling, 1951: 
January 29 - Rented a two-room house in Lagarto for $1. 00 
per day, population here is all black on the coast, but Indian 
inland. The trail from Salud to Rio Indio for the first half hour 
lies back of the beach, and for the next hour following the beach. 
The coast is low, no rocks or cliffs, and no mangroves. It is 
necessary to ford one stream about halfway. The town of Rio 
Indio is on the west side at the mouth of the river, crossing by 
dugout. Located on a hill which is grass-covered and airy. The 
Corregidor Evaristo Betegon runs the cantrna and store. 
People mixed, Indian and black. 
It is possible to go up the Rio Indio for six hours with an 
outboard and three days by dugout alone. 
February 15 - Moved equipment with 18 carriers from Salud to 
Rio Indio, re 9 .ted a one--room house on the hill. 
Secured a large canoe from El Chino, hired Demitrio, a 
good man as a guide. Went up the river six hours by outboard 
where the water became too shallow for the heavily loaded canoe. 
Two hours away is a cave called Casa de Laja containing bats. 
February 18 - Urucillo further down stream has 10 houses and a r 
school which Stirling used for quarters. The village was started 
10 years ago and is the only interior village in the region. Also 
the only settlement on the river, located at the first fork of the 
Rio Indio, a point 7 hours by outboard from the coast. 
