Note 49 — Chapter I · NICARAGUA: BOUNDARIES, TOPOGRAPHY, LAKES, RIVERS, PORTS, CLIMATE, POPULATION, PRODUCTIONS, MINES, ETC., ETC.

“The mines of Chontales lie about fifty miles from the sea-coast, one hundred and fourteen north-east of the town of Granada, and thirty-six from Lake Nicaragua, and extend over an area of about eighty miles. The district is fifteen hundred feet above the Atlantic, and surrounded by mountains one or two thousand feet higher. The metal is found in quartz, red sandstone and slate. In 1854 there were about three hundred men at work here, who had come from the mines of Honduras in the hope of higher wages. Here was also a motley crowd of American, Irish, French, and German vagabonds, who went digging one day here, and next day there, consuming in the evening what they had earned during the day. Altogether not above six hundred persons were attracted to this lonely region; while the province of Chontales has an Indian population of ten thousand, supporting themselves by hunting and fishing. Up to 1854 no gold from Chontales had found its way into commerce, nor had any proper analysis been made of the ores. Specimens of the latter were nevertheless brought to Granada of extraordinary richness. It was calculated that every 100 lbs. of the ore would yield three and a half ounces of pure gold. Subsequent results, however, did not bear out these anticipations. The great hindrance to the profitable working of the mines of Chontales, is the want of instructed miners, good roads, and sufficient capital.”—Scherzer.