Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/398

 394 COSTA EICA appear, and the broken ground becomes the level plains of the Carmen. Suddenly the in- clination becomes more marked, and finally forms a dark and deep ravine, in which the roar of the waters of the Kio Grande is heard. From the Cordilleras surrounding the valley numerous streams find their way into this river, and through it into the Pacific. The upper part of the valley is laid out into coffee plantations, but the lower plains of the Carmen are used as grazing grounds. In the N., E., and S. parts of the republic are dense tropical forests and mountain fastnesses. Along the Atlantic coast is a low, level, marshy tract, covered with forests and subject to floods. A large part of the country is still unexplored, the forests being penetrable only by rough and obscure paths. The rivers of Costa Rica, al- though numerous, are inconsiderable in size. The San Juan, which serves as the boundary between it and Nicaragua, is the only one navigable for steamers. The Sarapiqui rises in the hills not far N. of San Jose and flows near- ly N. to join the San Juan, whence flat-bot- tomed barges ascend it to the capital. The San Carlos, another affluent of the San Juan, pursues a similar course, as does also the Rio Frio flowing into Lake Nicaragua. On the Pacific side the largest is the Tempisque, which rises at the foot of the volcano of Orosi and runs S. into the gulf of Nicoya. Smaller streams are the Rio Grande, Arena, Alva- rado, Burica, Palmas, and Dulce, some of which are navigable for barges and canoes. On the Atlantic side are the Reventazon and Matina, which rise in the mountains of Car- tago and are navigable for canoes for short distances, and the Purissima, Tortuga, Jimenez, Barbilla, and some others of no importance. There are several small lakes, Socorro, Surti- dor, and Barba, at the E. base of the Cordil- leras, and Ochomogo near Cartago. Like the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is of vol- canic formation and subject to frequent earth- quakes. The soil is generally rich and very productive. Around San Jose" it is a dark loam, largely intermixed with volcanic mate- rials. Though less favored in mineral wealth than some of the neighboring countries, it con- tains some rich gold mines. The most impor- tant are those of Aguacate, in the forest of the same name, between San Jos6 and the Pacific coast, which were first worked in 1821. They were expected to yield $10,000,000 in 1872. Others are said to exist in the unexplored dis- tricts on the borders of Colombia, but nothing definite is known of them. Copper, iron, lead, and a brown bitumimous coal are also found, but the mines are undeveloped. The mining in the republic is carried on by British capital. The climate is as varied as the surface. It is mild and temperate in the uplands, and for a tropical country very healthy. In the district about the capital the thermometer ranges from 65 to Y5 F. during the forenoon; from noon until 3 o'clock, during the hottest season, some- times as high as 82 F. ; and at night, during the coldest period, never below 5Y F. On the coasts the average is much higher, but on the Pacific the thermometer seldom rises above 85 F. Both coasts are sickly, and are gener- ally troubled throughout the year with fevers, which attack natives and strangers alike. The length and severity of the rainy season renders the climate very trying to the European and the North American. It sets in on the Pa- cific coast usually during the month of April, increases gradually in intensity up to August or September, breaks up toward the middle of November, and generally ends with that month. During this season the roads are nearly im- passable. On the Atlantic slope these periods are nearly reversed, and a much larger amount of rain falls. Costa Rica is rich in vegetable productions. The greater part of the country is covered with thick forests and jungles, ex- cepting on the table lands, which are generally clear. All kinds of cabinet, timber, and dye woods peculiar to a tropical climate, and the cork tree and the valuable gums, grow to per- fection on the low lands, and pines, oaks, and chestnuts crown the tierras frias ; in the tierras calientes the cacao, vanilla, and banana have their most luxuriant growth ; and in the tierras templadas the sugar cane, orange and lemon trees, and the coflt'ee plant flourish in perfection. Nearly all the great tropical sta- ples may be cultivated with profit. In the more elevated districts many of the products of the temperate zone are found. The wild animals include the couguar or panther, wild cat, wolf, tapir, wild boar, fallow deer, monkey, sloth, hare, and squirrel. The' wooded coasts swarm with venomous snakes and dangerous reptiles. Birds of the most beautiful plumage abound, and insects infest the lowlands. Great devastation is frequently caused by locusts. Among the birds are pelicans, vultures, hawks, parrots, pigeons, ducks, and quail ; of domestic animals, the horses are inferior, but the mules are considered the finest in Central America. Immense herds of black cattle are raised, and sheep, goats, and swine of excellent quality abound. The various kinds of barnyard fowl grow to perfection. Fish are taken in the rivers and along the coasts; and the pearl oyster and a shell fish which yields a beautiful purple dye are found. The population of Costa Rica may be classified as follows: 50,000 mes- tizoes, 13,000 negroes, 4,000 Indians, and the re- mainder whites. The latter, who are more nu- merous here than elsewhere in Central Amer- ica, are, with the exception of a few Germans, French, and English, chiefly of pure Spanish extraction. It is said that the first Spanish settlers were from Galicia in the north of Spain; and the Costa Ricans appear to pre- serve many of the characteristics of that hardy and thrifty race. The Atlantic coast is occu- pied chiefly by Indians. There are also small tribes at the head waters of the San Juan and in some of the unexplored districts. Except-