The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-09

W rising scarcely above
For five days we had been laziIy pad
ding up the Panuco River, which flows
snto the Gulf OF Mexico at Tampico.
We had hunted antelope on the high
desert plains Of Eastern Chihuahua
with great success, trailed the big
mule deer over the foothills of the ST.
ezra Madres. had excellent sport with
the wild turkeys. pecoaries and little
white-tailed deer Of the hot country.
and after number ofPdays spent IN
sighting the leaping tarpon-the silver
kinE"-we longed for new excitement.
A friend had suggested trip up the
Psnuco River. promising US infinite
variety OF scenery and Sport
In front of the market at Tampicc
there lie, always, numerous canoes OF
ell sizes and varieties operated by the
indians OF the up country followed
out Of monster logs. some OF them are
sixty feet in length and often six feet
wide. and are the floating homes OF the
owners and their families. A frame
work of boughs matched with palm
leaves, in the stern, does for the dwell
ing, while in the bow a partition is
placed. and behind il dirt is filed IN;
on this a fire can be built. over which
the big brass brazier that Sc the one
cooking vessel used by the natives 10
placed when in use. When coming to
town the load Of sugar cane, pineap-
pies, bananas, vegetables or fruits is
placed smidships and the native drifts
idly down with the current. Life runs
easily for the Mexicans. A cotton shirt
and a pair of drawers constitute hts
costume. Having his house on his boat
he pays no man rent Food can be had
for the gathering and the current viii
carry his load as fast as he cares to go.
and nothing remains for him TO do but
10 hold the steering car, smoke cigar
cites and enjoy his dolce far niente.
The cargo disposed Of. he buys a few
brilliant .colored prints for the woman
and children who belong to him, lays
IN q store of tobacco and bottle Of
sEGaTt1ente and starts on the long.
tSFo "Trip Gp tiie river
Nosing among the empty canoes We
soon found one in the bottom OF which
were dying two athletic, haif-naked In
dams, sound asleep IN the sun. their
faces covered with their big sombreros.
Your native Mexican docs nothing IN
hanrry, and while the member of our
party who spoke Spanish ''diclsered'
with the natives who owned the boat
the rest of US sat on the wharf with
our feet dangling over The water, ate
pineapples and sworc under our breath
at the delay. AT last the bargain was
completed. We had already secured a
small steam launch. with this we were
60 tow the canoe up the river, using the
latter for side excursions into shallow
water. BY s,o'clock the next morning
we had started.
Waterways of the Hot Country
One who has never sailed up wa
terway Of the hot country cannot have
any idea Of the infinite variety and
beauty of the trip. The air. The water
and the jungle on the bank ali abound
with life of every kind High over
head sails an occasional monster
1rigste bird. Fiocks of sauawkins p.ir-
rots or screaming paroquets make
their noisy fight from shore &c shore.
Long lines Of geese. or ducks stream
above us or skim the writer. affording
easy shooting On the banks and in
the edge OF the water stately, silenE
wsders stand with intent gaze watch
ing for the unwary fish that comes
within reach OF their deadly stroke. In
the back waters and lagoons where the
lily pads and gorgeous water flowers
make brilliant combinations Of color
long-Iegged birds of every hue run. over
the big leaves in search of food. The
banks arc fringed with tules except
where some point Of land breaks
through to the waters edge. Here the
cypress trees. with gray wells of moss.
lean out over the water, and one expe-
riences somehow the same sensation
felt when q very aged person enters 4
room filled by laughing. joyous young
people.