Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-19

| oWohAiP Sa1o oSPoo1C ooAOly dnu OlNC "a .
deadly weapons, the close association
less terrors to my timid SOUL My good
American gold has been exchanged for
the debased coin of Latin America,
and fear that the dark-skinned gentle
men who Accommodated me have ex-
tracted trifle more than the proper
rate; but at that shall need a mule
! to carry 1t.
The situation Of this town is adj
mirable for maritime city. The
climate is generally cool and delight
full, as the heat is always tempered by
the wind of the sea. Back of the port
a chain of high mountain contribute
a grand and interesting character to
the scenery, and the coast assumes
an appearance of grandeur and beauty
and more than realizes my idea of
tropical regions Beyond the first
range are lofty mountains of perpetual
green-some isolated and others run
ming off into ranges higher and higher,
until their SUBMITS are hidden in the
Clouds.
They tell me down here the ghost of
the Louisiana lottery is going to rise,
and that new Monte Carlo is going
to be erected on the Island of Bonac-
ca. That story sounded 80 interesting
that determined to visit the place,
and engaged carib sloop to take me
over. Bonacca is one of the bay Is
lands and lies in latitude 16 degrees
% minutes north, and longitude IS
degrees IS minutes west On the map
it resembles hand, the index finger
pointing to the northeast. 1t is nine
and a half miles long by five miles
wide, and on account of its elevation
it is visible for many miles at sea.
Our approach in small sloop was
from the south side, and we anchored
in lovely little bay, in about eight
fathoms of water. The water was
wonderfully transparent, and every
thing on the bottom was distinctly
visible. All forms Of sea life were
numerous. and particularly several
varieties of medusae. The medusae,
found to my cost, as much nicer to
look at than to handle. l discovered
this fact Immediately upon taking one
of these opaline beauties out of the
water. A nettle sting was trif1ing to
the discomfort I experienced.
From where we landed the shore as.
|
hight mill covered with every kind OF
we could see seemed one continuous
grove Of cocoanut trees loaded with
nuts A number of Carib dwellings,
made of mud and matched with the
leaves of cabbage palm dotted the
shore, their owners engaged in fishing
on the coral reefs.
We proceeded to ascend the hill,
about 500 feet in elevation, passing
through perfect maze of tropical
luxuriance. On the summit the view
was enchantingly beautiful, ranges OF
hills, one above the other inclosing
charming and delightful valleys and
savannas met the eye on every hand.
The foliage seemed equally rich every.
where. Here and there were little
plantations, the light green of the
banana and plantain being readily dis.
tinguished The coffee tree blossoms
beside the orange; the lime and the
cocoa mingle their shade in the same
patio. The chief product, however, is
the cocoanut 1t requires no labor on
the part Of the people, otherwise
doubt it would be product at all, for
a lazier lot of rascals never lived
under a smiling heaven.
No Place for "oIdest Inhabitant."
This is no place for the oldest in
habitant, whose hobby is recalling the
weather of the past Here the wealth
er does not vary twenty degrees in a
whole year, and the temperature is
that of May morning. Ask the thick
Tipped Carib about the weather and he
replies "Es les nlismos todas los
IDEAS" ut is the same always.) There
is something narcotic in the air. Wher
you breath it to the full you feel like
declaring: No more winter for you
with its catarrh, it's grip, it's coughs
it's colds, and its collins. Half of oul
lives in the north are spent in tryln:
to keep full bin of coal without go
ing into bankruptcy, and the Other
half, when viewed from this place
seems equally unattractive.
| Now, in this climate, you are con
fident that you would put in a little
more time in sleeping, trihe less il
eating, and the biggest part of two
thirds of the balance in enjoying few
Of the many blessings scattered al
around you. Your enjoyment wouldn'
, be married in the least by the fac
that You do not have to work to pro
cure these blessings. No stubborn
soil to till, no sowing or reaping. Yo1
just get some one to pick your fru
for you while you try and find tim
to eat. Oh, shall never be able t.
. describe to you the delicious languo
which steals over me at noon each day
The roseate atmosphere of the opium
eaters dream seems to develop yo1
and you fall back in your hammocl
swinging under the palms, lazily con
templating the graceful rings ascend
ing from your cigar. Then with eye
half closed, the hum Of droning IN
sects in your ear you lay your plan
for tomorrow, and mind you. Away
for tomorrow. You left the land O
r Now, with it's turbulent strife, its fire
and toll, and this is Tomorrow land.
American Monte Carlo.
The plan Is to lease the island fror
Honduras, drive out the squatters, an
then, by the expenditure of millions
make this the American Monte Carlo