GOLD HUNTING IN COLUMBIA

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 276, 15 May 1873, Page 7

GOLD HUNTING IN COLUMBIA

In 1869 a number of Californians were lured to Barbacoas, on the western coast of Columbia, by the reports of the existence there of rich placer mines, which could be cheaply worked with native labor. The mines were there, sure enough formed by the washings of the Cordillera streams foi ages; but the owners asked for one half the product, the climate was sickly, and our adventurers, generally without means, finally abandoned the country in disgust. One of the few who remained was Dr. James Weaver, an old Californian, who had been a pioneer, miner, and ditch builder in Nevada and Yuba counties, where a mining canal still bears his name, and who will be widely remembered when we recall his name, both in this State and Nevada. Weaver left the coast, pushed into the interior of the province of Cauea, which is in the south-western extremity of Columbia and prospected high up in one of the Andean ridges, where he hud to cut a trail and mal e his way with great hardship. On the banks of the River Aguarica, whose name indicates its auriferous richness, he found gold wherever he washed the gravel. After many vicissitudes he established himself in this lonely country in a hut with a few Indians. But his Indians deserted him, tind he was obliged to quit Aguarica. At Yaculo, however, in another part of Cuuca, 30 miles from Barbacoas, he found extensive placer deposits, similar to the hydraulic mines of California, where one Pablo Rienel, with men, women, and children, Indian and negro, was taken out considerable gold by means of ground sluicing, water being plentiful for the purpose, and rain falling often enough to keep the ground constantly in a good condition for washing. Weaver saw Rienel's people wash

up 40lbs of gold, weighed with the steelyard ; at 16 ozs to the pound. He found the mining country consisting of hi:>h gravel ridges, divided by many ravines and streams, to be very extensive, and admirably adapted for hydraulic operations. Rienel owned 30 sq uare leagues, which he offered to sell for 200,000 dollars— and all of it, says Weaver, is regular mining ground. The Yacula diggings are known to very few people, and Rienel is the only one who has tried to work them largely. The negro women make spending money easily by washing in the ravines. The country is very sparsely inhabited. The land, when owned by individuals, is held by title descended from the King of Spain. The laws allow one man a league of mining ground when found vacant, and much of it is vacant and unexplored. Dr. Weaver was so pleased with the Yaculo country that he has come to San Francisco to obtain the implements and machinery necessary to hydraulic raining ; and means to return there to work some land he has secured. He says labor can be obtained for 10 dols. a month ; that any kind of vegetables can be easily raised ; that the climate is good thn people (mostly Spanish and Indians) are friendly ; an \ edibles of all kinds very cheap. But he says it is no country for poor men. Without monfty and implements to work the ground systematically on a large scale Americans would starve there. The " Panama Star and Herald ' editorially endorses Weaver's stateme concerning the -old regions of Colu bia, which are important outside ..f Gicau, and prints a long letter from him, describing that interesting wild country and his adventures, which i smack of Californian 1849 experience. But, as Weaver says, it is certainly • c country tor poor men. — " San Francis>eo Bulletin."