Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/588

568 Francisco de Montejo, governor of Yucatan, about the year 1535 petitioned the crown to add to his government the province of Honduras, stating as a reason for so doing, that in Honduras were rich mines of gold, while in Yucatan there were none, and without that attraction the land of Yucatan never would be pacified.

Felipe Gutierrez, governor of Veragua in 1537, was guided by a native to some rich gold mines situated within three or four leagues of the sea-shore between the rivers Veragua and Concepcion; but being pressed by disease and famine, he, as all others before him had done, was obliged to withdraw from that country. In 1540, five or six men, formerly occupied in the mines of Honduras, crossed over to Española, and reported that land rich in minerals, with an abundance of game, fruit, grain, and honey.

Diego Gutierrez in 1540 was appointed by the emperor governor of Nueva Cartago, or Costa Rica, and five years later ascended for a few leagues the river Surre, which is supposed to be the same that is now called Revenrayon which flows into the Caribbean Sea in latitude about 10° 20′. Taking possession of a deserted Indian village within the province which gave name to the river, the caciques occupying adjacent provinces brought in an inferior or alloyed gold to the value of 700 ducats. On being questioned whence it was obtained, they replied that it came from certain rivers flowing down the sides of steep mountains in countries very distant. On the southern slope of the mountains Gutierrez found the gold more plentiful and the quality finer. It was fabricated into necklaces and bracelets. The natives