ETHNOHISTORY
It was on the coasts of Darién that Spanish discoverer Rodrigo de Bastidas, accompanied by sailor and cartographer, Juan de la Cosa, and Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, first walked on Isthmian lands in 1501; a year later Christopher Columbus visited the region of San Blas and Portobelo which still carries the name he gave it meaning Beautiful Port.

The origin of the name Darién is not clear but scientists believe it might derive from the big Darién river, near the Gulf of Urabá. The Darién river name very likely comes from a powerful Cacique (chief) since it was usual to name land after its rulers. During the conquest, Darién included lands from the Gulf of Urabá, now in Colombia, right up to Capira situated 50 kms north west of Panama City.

In 1510 Santa Maria La Antigua del Darién, the first Spanish city, was founded near the bay of Calidonia (all remains have disappeared) and became capital of the recently denominated Governorship of Castilla de Oro. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa was left in charge of the new town and rapidly tried to gain favors from the Cueva Indians, Darién denizens named from the Cueva language they spoke. Told by the Cueva that a few days of journey away there was another sea, many islands, pearls and gold, Vasco Nuñez de Balboa initiated his expedition to look for a Southern Sea on September 1st, 1513 with 190 soldiers and a few Indians. Only 25 days later, he viewed the Pacific Ocean from a mountain, giving the gulf the name of San Miguel. This event is historically viewed as the most important after the New World discovery.

The new governor of Castilla de Oro, Pedro Arias Dávila also named Pedrarias, a former infantry colonel, arrived with 2,000 men in 1514 in Santa Maria La Antigua. Accompanying him was Fernando de Oviedo y Váldez who would become the best chronicler of the Darién. While Pedrarias was exploring the region and the Pacific coast, Gaspar de Morales and Francisco Pizarro went to conquer the archipelago of the Pearl Islands.

After years of rivalries, mutual hatred and infighting Vasco Nuñez de Balboa was accused of treason and finally beheaded in Acla on Pedrarias' order in January, 1519. There were no more obstacles to Pedrarias' search for fame and glory and he decided in August of 1519 to move the Royal Santa Maria colony to the Pacific coast where he founded Old Panama City. In 1524 the abandoned Santa Maria del Darién or what was left of it, was attacked and burnt by Indians. Acla, the other Spanish city established in 1515 by Pedrarias in Tierra Firme in front of Mulatupo and Tubuala islands, was officially abandoned in 1532.

Besides its early metropolitan function, Darién was essentially a source of riches for the Spaniards and remained as such for more than a century. Gold mining was so intense after 1530 that slaves and Indians from distant provinces - even from what is today Costa Rica and Nicaragua - were brought to work the mines, and refine gold. Cana mine, the largest on the continent, was operational for more than 150 years.

Gold is still detected in abundance in riverbeds as it washes down from old mines and underwater veins. Cana and Tuquesa mines near the Paca and Tuquesa Rivers were exploited until recently and concessions are periodically given to potential new mining companies.

Little is known of the Cueva Indians discovered by the Conquistadors. Historians talk about a large complex of chieftainships and a notable culture whose economic base was agriculture. They grew corn, cassava and other tubers for daily food. Corn was also used to make "chicha", a fermented beverage. Fish and game completed the diet with a profusion of natural fruits: pineapple, avocado, mamey (mamee apple), plantains, bananas and different palm tree fruits. Polygamy was usual for the "quevi", the highest chief but poor men were monogamous until they could afford to add more wives to their household. The Cueva knew how to process gold since the "quevi" and other "tibas" (chiefs of lesser importance) would be adorned with gold adornments. The "tequina" was the oracle-healer. War amongst chieftainships was habitual, not only for self defense, but also to obtain slaves and win new territories. While at peace, the Cueva's main occupation was trading goods - an activity at which they excelled.