Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
enormous allisators may be shot on both

enormous allieators may be shot on both
sides of the isthmus.
ground sharks that none OF the natives will
ever take swim in it. Some foreigners
used to do so until one of the canal engf-
neers. a young Colombian named Jules Pat
terson was killed some years ago. When
his body was recovered 1t had been almost
entirely stripped of flesh.
That incident led to war of reprisal on
the sharks, which Is still kept up by the
Panamans. Many of them are content
with simply catching and killing them and
the favorite method is called ''crucifying.''
1.-THE beast is hooked" said an English
resident of Panama who saw this done,
land drawn on deck, care being taken to
see that he cannot use his terrible mouth
for biting. He is laid down on boards, and
his fins are securely nailed thereto in such
way that he cannot use them
THE tail is then cut close off, and the
unfortunate animal is thrown overheard.
He cannot swim and he cannot steer him.
self. He is helpless and the other members
OF his own family promptly attack and de-
YOUR him"
Must Take Exercise.
On the isthmus, as in all tropical coun-
tries, plenty of vigorous outdoor exercise
is essential to the preservation of health
Riding, tennis, hunting. rowing and SWIM
ming should be the daily sports of Ameri-
cans who go down there. In that relaxing
climate there is a constant temptation to
live the dolce far niente'' life, like the ma
tives. but the man who does so feels the
neat of the climate far more than his neigh
Dor who goes in for vigorous exercise.
1t IS best not to work too hard, or for
too many hours a day. The "siesta" should
not be missed. The man who tries to do
TOO much on the isthmus will soon end by
being unable to do anything.
Whisky Is bad. brandy worse and beer
worst of all in the tropics. If a man must
drink. the least harmful thing to take is
Jamaica rum, diluted with water and the
juice of the lime. But a mans health In
the tropics depends largely upon his being
strictly temperate in his mode of living A
Canadian doctor who lived five years in
Panama gave the following advice:
Simple Eating Best.
Get up early-say. at or 7-begin the
day with a bath. and then have coffee, or
anges and rolls. Have breakfast at IL or
II. and let it be a good. hearty NEAL which
people in temperate climates would regard
as midday dinner. In common with many
old residents of the tropics. l used to begin
mine by taking some ripe fruit and follow
ing it with beefsteak, yams, potatoes and
coffee. l always made my meals simple
and found that 1t paid to do SO.
Have dinner at 6. and follow 1t up by a
quiet evening. Smoke a cigar on the We
randa or play game of chess with a
friend. Go to bed at or 10 o clock
American women who go down to the
isthmus with their husbands will find it
possible to keep house comfortably and
fairly cheap after they become acquainted
with the ways of the country. They should
beware of native servants. and try to en-
gage instead some of the West Indian COL
ored folk, who swarm all over the isthmus.
They should not live in Panama or Colon.
if they can possibly avoid doing so. but
should buy build bungalow in the
country, preferably on a hill.
Lucky, indeed. will be the American
whose wife or sister keeps house for him,
for bachelor existence in a Panama board
ing house is barely endurable to any man
who has been accustomed to the decencies
of life