The times., 1899-12-26

colonists were not able to defend them
selves against the attacks of the Spanish
without help from the British ships Of war.
The ColOniSts had a fort at the head of the
bay, and the ruins OF il are there yet, but
the fort was nOt enough; so the whole
thing was abandoned. and Mr.. Patterson,
if my memory serves me, died Of broken
heart.
4 was two or three days at Caledonia
Bay. II is a beautiful spot-that wao
coast is wonderfully beautiful. The moLn-
Jains densely wooded, come down 10 dip
their feet into the sea. which is here so
clear that one may see the bottom at a
depth Of forty feet. All along the C. asst
are islands covered with Cocoanut tees.
There are 365 Of these islands between Cal
edonia Bay and san Bias Point. 1t is
beautiful sailing ground for a yacht, as
the water inside the islands is as calm s
the Upper Bay here in New YO.k.
The islands extend for about $50 mi es
along the coast. Sailing vessels purchasing
cOcoanuts from the Indians dodge in nd
out among the islands and the coral reefs.
We're il not for the never ceasng raLs
and foEs and clouds Of the country il would
he most delightful place of res delte.
Only occasionally can one ses the Wh5.e
chain Of mountains, 50 constant IS tie
bank OF clouds and mist.
But there is one charm about that
mountain range that have never seen
elsewhere. That is the wonderful exhib.-
ton of cloud shapes which one may wa ch
day after day as ones boat goes laziiy
creeping along the coast. So far as l know
there are no such varieties of c.oud forma
tions in the world. As one goes browsing
along the coast or skirts the mainland 10
the eastward. with the blue Caribb an
under foot and the soft trade winds singing
In the rigging. ii is like a vision OF fairy
land. those everchanging cloud formations,
with their frequent rain squalls, sudden
shafts OF brilliant sunlight, and dazz ing
c0.ors as the yellow light of sunset picr,es
through the serrled banks and bll0ws of
clouds"
Mr. Howard paused moment appar-
emily busy with the recollectiOns of his
thousand mile sail up and down the San
Bias and Colombian coasts and then con
tinued 4 hope that these Indians viii be
let alone. ] admire them for one thing, if
for nothing else. That thing is their abso-
lutte refusal TO allow white men to come
among them with the vices Of civilization.
No white man may pass the night on the
mainland OF the San Bias coast. He may
go ashore from his boat during the day, if
he has business with the Indians; but
when sunset comes he must go back 10 his
boat and stay there until next morning.
This rule is absolute. 1t is never departed
from.
The Indians say that they Will not have
their blood adulterated with the blood Of
white men. They wish to keep their race
pure and pure il has remained since the
creation Of the race. These people were
never conquered by the early Spaniards.
They always maintained their independ-
euce ard they maintain it 10 this day. de-
spite the Colombian Government, within
the boundaries OF which their country lies.
Caledonia Bay is just On the edge of the
San Bias country, 50 that there may not be
any serious trouble about the engineering
party; but the delegation Of Indians at Co
Ion 70 protest against the presence Of the
/ engineers does not sound -eassuring.
There is one mystery ABOUT that inland
country that / should like 10 solve said
Mr.. Howard in conclusion. There is said
10 be a race of white Indians back in the
mountains. How true that is I have no
( personal means of knowing but | have
seen q woman who was declared to be
member Of the tribe. ] saw her padding a
canoe near Aligandi one Of the coast viii
lages. She had light hair. blue eyes, and a
white skin. The study Of races at first
hand has always been Of great interest to
me; so I should like TO have that white
Indian mystery solved. But / have little
inclination TO risk poisoned arrows and
mapana snakes merely TO solve it