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CHAPTER Y. 
GENERAL INTEREST OF SPANISH AMERICANS IN MINING.—EXCUR¬ 
SIONS TO MAQUELIZO, LIMON, AND DEPILTO.-DEPARTURE FROM 
OCOTAL.-MATAGALPA.-OCALCA.-SEBACO.-A ROYAL PRESENT. 
The thirst for gold and silver which first led the 
Spaniards to overrun tropical America has been in¬ 
herited to the fullest extent by their descendants; 
and, next to treasure-trove and gambling, there is no 
subject more popular with them than that of mining. 
Everybody takes an interest in it, everybody has 
some share in one mine or other, and no sooner 
has a new locality disclosed a few rich specimens 
than money for working it is offered from every 
side. People who own little more than what they 
stand upright in willingly contribute their last shil- 
, ling to help on the project. Yet notwithstanding 
this general interest felt in the subject, there is no 
people so far behind in this art as the Spanish, and 
more particularly the Central Americans. Hence their 
attempts to enrich themselves in this way almost in¬ 
i' 
