tion of Chinese to the Isthmus, many of that people having already found their way to Panama.

The researches of the Botanist in this hitherto unexplored region would be sure of an ample reward, an entirely new field lying open, here, for the discovery of new species to add to the domain of his science.

ANIMALS.-The Peccary or Wild Hog, Cogue or Deer of the species known by the name of Wirribocerra in Mexico, Conejo, or Rabbit, Macho del Monte, a sort of Ass, Monkeys, Perezas or Sloths, Hormigueros or Anteaters, Iguanas, Wild Turkeys, Parrots, Macaws, Wild Ducks, Pigeons, etc. abound in the forest.

There is abundance of fish on both coasts of the Isthmus, known to the Indians by the names of the Berugati (fifty pounds' weight), Robalo, Bagre, Parvo, Hurel, Barbu, Corvina, Hurello, Mero, Cassou, Cominata, and Rayo, etc. All these are good eating, and easily caught.

Oysters are plentiful about the shores of the Gulf of San Miguel, and at the mouth of the Savana.

There are extensive beds of pearl oysters near the shores of the Island of San Miguel, or Isla del Rey, the largest of the Pearl islands, in the Bay of Panama, just outside the Gulf; and the natives of the villages on the island occupy themselves very profitably in diving for them.

Turtle are very plentiful on the Atlantic coast, and the Indians there carry on a trade in tortoiseshell.

MINERALS.-Among the minerals of Darien, it is not unlikely that coal may be found. Indeed, it was the opinion of Sir E. Parry, and Mr. Wheelwright, that the veins of coal in Chiriqui and Veraguas, bisected the whole isthmus.

COALS.-In July, 1851, I saw some specimens of coal at Lorica, on the river Sinu, which had been obtained near

Cienaga de Oro, higher up the river. The Sinu is the next river eastward of the Atrato.

On the banks of the Carare, a branch of the Magdalena, coal has also been found, and on my passage to Honda, last April, I met a gentleman who was proceeding to Velez, near the head of the Carare, to hire labourers to work in the coal mines. I have further been assured by Mr. Reid, late of Bogota, of the existence of coal on the banks of the Magdalena itself, near Conejo, a little below Honda.

Coal of excellent quality is obtained in the neighbourhood of the plain of Bogota, and between the village of Soachi and the great fall of Tequendama,21 twelve miles S.W. of Bogota, and is used in Mr. Wilson's ironworks, at Pacho, near the salt-mines of Zipaquirá. Between Facatativa and Villeta, also, on the road from Bogota to Honda, there is an extensive coal district, which will be of great importance in the future operations of the Magdalena Steam Navigation Company.

Thus there are coals both to the westward and eastward of Darien, and there is little doubt that Sir E. Parry and Mr. Wheelwright will be found to have been correct in their opinion.

The existence of coal in Veraguas, Chiriqui,22 and Costa

21 Perpendicular height, 504 feet.

22 Messrs. Whiting and Shuman, in their " Report," dated April 1, 1851, "on the Coal Formation of the Island of Muerto, near David, in Chiriqui," say-"We found the Muerto coal to burn equally as free as the other (the very best English coal), emitting a bright, beautiful flame, with as much bitumen." This coal contains upwards of 58 per cent. of solid carbon.

At the Island of Muerto, Messrs. Whiting and Shuman also found monuments and columns, covered with hieroglyphics, similar to those discovered in Yucatan by Mr. Stephens. At San Agustin, and in the forests of Laboyos and Timaná, about 2o north, near the sources of the Magdalena, there are columns,

Rica,23 on the Magdalena and Sinu Rivers, in Vancouver's Island, the Aleoutian Archipelago, Amoy, and the Island of Formosa, on the Coast of China, is a great point in favour of steamers proceeding from the Isthmus to China, by grand circle sailing.

I believe that coals exist also in the Gallapagos Islands. GOLD. Of the auriferous character of the soil in many parts of Darien, I satisfied myself by tracing out some of the mines formerly worked by the Spaniards. During my late visit to Bogota, I learned, from returns existing in the archives there, that the King's five per cent. from one of these mines averaged annually 100,000 castellanos or 300,000 dollars.24 It is not unlikely that the necessary cutting may

idols, altars, images of the sun, and other evidences of the former existence there of a great nation now extinct.

"Of the quantity of coal that can be obtained" in Chiriqui, "no doubt can be entertained that it is sufficient to supply the steamers on the Pacific for ages."-Report of W. W. Ridley, Esq., C.E., New York.

23 "A recent discovery has been made at the village of Tarraba of a large bed of coal, upwards of six miles in length and 150 feet in breadth; as well as on the route in other localities."Authorised "Costa Rica Report."

"The discovery of the mine of coal, respecting which you enquire, is certain. There is not only one, but many, and all of excellent quality, for I have seen specimens of them at the house of the President; some of them appeared to me very superior." -Letter from Senor A. Ximenez, merchant of San Jose.

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24. Very rich mines," says Captain Fitzroy (p. 25), were then (at the time of the Scottish colony-1698) worked in that district; but so harassed were the Spaniards by repeated incursions of the Buccaneers, by the Indians, and by the alarming attempt of the Scotch to colonise so close to the real El Dorado that early in the last century, the mines of Cana and others in the neighbourhood were concealed and abandoned. The miners and their strong guard of soldiers were withdrawn, and all the forts dismantled. No traces of Cana are visible. Santa Maria is likewise overgrown and hidden. Only a few straggling gol-washers now visit that neighbourhood occasionally."

The mines of Cana (the richest ever worked by the Spaniards)

develope the existence of rich veins of gold, and partly repay the expenses of the canal.

The rich gold mines on the banks of the Andagada and Bebara, branches of the Atrato, have lately been investigated by my friend, Mr. Vincent (now on his way to England), who, to reach them from Bogota, crossed the pass of Quindiu, 11,500 feet above the level of the sea, and traversed the valley of the Cauca, and the province of Antioquia; whilst Dr. Florentino Gonzales has lately purchased the titles of the Frontino, Juan Criollo, and Bolivia gold mines in Antioquia.

The geological formation of the country will probably be found to be, throughout, as it is in parts of the neighbourhood, micaceous schist overlying granite, in depth. Should such be the case, it is easy to understand why this district is free from earthquakes, and why it should be a goldbearing region.2

of which Captain Fitzroy makes mention, were those which I more particularly sought out in my explorations, and the localities of which I ascertained precisely.

25El Panameño" of the 8th Dec. 1849, contains my report of the extensive gold diggings, which I ascertained to exist in the country between Panama and Pacora, about thirty miles to the eastward of it, and about twenty miles west of the Chepo. In the course of this journey I forded the rivers Matarnillo, Abajo (on the banks of which deer are plentiful) Lalaha, Mariprieta, San Bartolomé, and Juan Dias; aud saw evidences in several places of the mining operations of the old Spaniards. The gold dust which I extracted was twenty-two carats fine. There was a settlement once established on the Pacora by Mr. M'Gregor, formerly British Consul at Panama, and Don Juan Ergote, an Andalusian, who used to cut Mora timber and export it from the river to Guayaquil and Callao. Near San Bartolomé is the Cerro del Pilon del Oro," or Mountain of the Block of Gold, the highest hill in that district; whence, they say, a Spaniard from Lima once extracted a block of gold; it is believed that another may yet be found there.

"It is no longer a matter of doubt that gold can be procured

EMIGRATION AND COLONISATION CONSEQUENT ON So luxuriantly fertile is the

THIS UNDERTAKING.

in the mines on the Isthmus, within a day's travel of Panama. Judge Shattuck, of Mississippi, a gentleman of high character and standing, and Dr. Cullen, a gentleman acquainted with the mining operations in California, have been prospecting, and give it as their opinion that the 'dust' exists in particles sufficiently large, and of a quality to justify extended operations. We have seen some of the dust procured by these gentlemen, and have no hesitation in asserting it to be the real stuff. Jewellers and dealers in the precious metals pronounce it fully equal to the productions of California. Large numbers of the Americans, impressed with the truth of the above statement, and the fortune which it promises in perspective, have determined not to go to California, but content themselves with the gains they can make here. May success crown their efforts and a golden treasure be their reward. The resources and destiny of Panama are not yet half developed or foreshadowed.”—Panama Star, December 19, 1849.

"There is now in Panama a gentleman, a miner, just arrived from the interior-the diggings of Veraguas, who showed us a rich specimen of gold, 22 carats fine. He relates that his company, a party of forty Americans, are extracting from five to six dollars' worth of this gold per day. This gold, beautiful and of rich grain, is unlike the dust, but, on an average, will be found as large as a grain of rice. This fact proves that our miners of the Isthmus are not experienced with digging operations, because the value of the powder or dust, which they do not gather, is equal to half of their daily produce. The success in digging, so far, is promising; but when the explorations become more evident, we expect to hear of more profitable researches. One thing is selfevident-living is cheap on this part of the Isthmus, the climate is fine and healthy; and as it is near Panama, where they can easily ship or dispose of their earnings, we think five or six dollars here, with the low price of living, is fully equivalent to ten or fifteen dollars in California, where everything is high, and the country is sterile and unhealthy. Let the gold adventurers think of these things, and give the Isthmus a trial before they go further.”—The Panama Echo, Feb. 8th, 1850.

The "Panama Star" of 14th December last, quoted in the "Times" of January 11th, gives the result of Major Doss's explorations in the vicinity of the river Chepo, and its principal branch, the Terable. Major Doss found gold in all the streams in that district, and each panful of earth yielded from 25 to 30 cents. One person, Mr. Sennett, washed out in one day five