Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-07-22

! and Raiment, and Food Is as Plentiful
rs Air-They Arc Not Worried Over Fl
/ nancial Problems.
"We had to remain in Panama bay
three days before the steamer sailed, -
said traveller who had recently returned
from trip across the isthmus, as he
| lighted fresh cigar, "and friend and
decided to spend the time exploring
the bay. We hired two West India
darkies, who had a longboat, with a
sail which could be utilized when the
wind was fair, to row us around. Well,
Of course, we sailed up the canal as far
as there was any water and saw the
progress which had been made, or rather
the lack of progress; but that is another
story.
"We shot one alligator and shot at a
dozen more They were lying along the
banks Of the canal summing themselves,
and looked exactly like logs to the mex
perienced eye from a distance. Upon
nearer approach the log would suddenly
become animated and would slide off the
bank into the water with splash.
'But what started to tell about was
peculiar settlement of natives some
distance up the northern shore of the
bay. It seemed peculiar to me, but such
things may be common down in that
country. I am told they are. At any
rate, it was settlement of people who
had kept themselves so far removed from
the modern world that they had no de-
sire for money.
''To tell the truth, they have little or
no use for money, but yet I have never
before seen people who honestly cared
SO little for the root of all evil as these
half naked natives of the isthmus did
1t was small settlement Of perhaps two
dozen houses. A dwelling consisted of
small poles stuck up endways, an inch
or SO apart, to allow the air to circulate
freely, with a thatched roof Each hab-
itation consisted Of one room, open to
the gaze of all the neighboFs through
the spaces between the poles.
''In this lived father. mother, chill
dren. pigs, dogs, chickens and any other
animals in the possession Of the family.
The children, up to the age of 10 Or IA,
did not wear any clothing whatever,
and the adults none to amount to any
thing. Bananas, cocoanuts and other
tropical fruits grew ON every hand, and
there were plenty of fish in the bay,
which were easily caught
''The members of the whole COM
munity seemed to spend their time much
as the alligators did, lying about sleep
ing and summing themselves. When they
wanted any fruit, it was to be had for
the picking, and the fish were secured
almost as easily. 1t was long sail in
our small boat from the ship lying at
anchor in the bay, but we had started
early, the wind was fair and we arrived
at the settlement about noon. The ma
tives paid little attention to US and some
Of them did not deign even to wake up
as we passed. Others partly opened their
eyes and listlessly looked up upon our
approach, but when we had passed they
went to sleep again without SO much as
turning their heads to see where we
were going.
'tOur guides told us to pick as much
of the fruit as we wished. We expressed
a fear that the owners would object,
but were assured that they would not
So we picked basketful in one family's
back yard, if that fenceless town could
be said to have back yard. But we felt
somewhat guilty nevertheless in walk
ing away with big basket of delicious
fruit without so much as offering to
pay anything for it. We 30 expressed
ourselves to our guides, so they told us
to offer the people something-what-
ever we pleased.
IT took several small silver pieces
from my pocket and offered them to the
man who seemed to be the head Of the
family. He was lying with half closed
eyes near the entrance of his home. He
opened his eyes a little wider when I
approached, looking at the coins in my
outstretched hand, shook his head and
mumbled something which could not
understand. looked inquiringly at the
guide, who had followed me. He says
he has no use for it,, the guide inter
preted, and SO we went our way, and it
was starlight when we again reached
the ship. New York Tribune.