New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-09

yerous torrent These rains are tropical in
oeec. lasting for sight months out Of the twelve,
Win an annual fall OF ten feet! The climate
Is very hot These two circumstances Of heavy
rainfall and high temperature combined have
developed the vegetation the isthmus 10 a
marvellous extent Virgin forests are overgrown
Win giant cactus trees, cOcOas and palms, while
the underground is so thick that only an axe
or a knife can cut a path through the inextri-
caole mases OF the jungle. All the venOmous
Inmates OF Noahs Ark inhabit these beautiful
but deadly haunts. The country swarns with
serpents' scorpions and spiders, the swamps
are alive With allgatOrs, and the air IS thick
with mosquitoes
Occasionally we crossed a river on whose
banks native women were at work washing
their scanty attire, or we came upon a settle
Inent OF palm matched huts shaded by banana
trees IN fruit. the homes Of native Panamans
These habitatiOns were half buried in the moist
underground, a condition more picturesque. II
less healthy than that Of the trim little wooden
habitations, raised piles TO preserve them
from damp. OF the colored laborer employed in
canal work. We noticed these laborers employed
In gangs from end 10 end Of the isthmus They
We're building houses and reservoirs and work
Ing on the railway line. which IS now in course
OF being double tracked.
Our rooms in the hotel at Panama were not
comfortable. but have known worse. My great
trouble that owing 10 the heat / could
close neither window nor shutter. but drew my
bed almost onto the balcony prefeTTing 10 sleep
as near as possible a la belle etOile. / thus got
the full benefit Of the CHEEKY but somewhat noisy
social gatherings OF American youth who as
sembled nightly IN a restaurant close by, and.
they might listen" 10 music. spent their night
In making IL. As in their youthful enthusiasm
harmony was 10 them but secondary cOnsid-
Grafton ard as they each INDUCED in their own
favorite air Independently but simultaneously.
sleep for me was Impossible. and I sympathized
with me oNeTzealous Panaman Lolice. who on
more than one occasion nave almost brought
about a political crisis by endeavoring to club"
these noisy fellows into respect for the slumbers
or others
Labor is one Of the most pressing Of the many
burning questions connected with the coustruc-
most available labor - "cOlored." from the West
indies. chiefly from Jamaica, but also from Mar
Unique and Barbados The jamaican Negro IS
q lazy fellow by nature. a big child who wants
the best OF everything and VIII only work for
IL just as much he need, and not fraction
more In Jamaica he has but 10 take mis- ma
chete, has universal working tool. and 60 into
the jungle. and in tWenty-fouE hours ne can cut
cane enough 10 build himself a house which.
when well matched with palm. will afford sum
Client shelter FOR himself and family. Then when
he is hungry he pucks few bananas. cocoa
nuts and yams, ana. behold. he has his food and
drink Fuel IN that climate he does not need.
except for cooking, and that IS soon collected IN
tie immediate neighborhood And 50 he lives
himself. his wife and children uhe wife doing
Nature, relying upon her TO supply his needs
at a minimum expense Of labor and fatigue. In
his tropical home under such climatic conditions
he lacks the only real incentive which underlies
al human energy. namely. the necessity 10 DrO-
vide for his daily needs by the toll of his hands
ana the sweat OF his brow. II he energies from
this quasi animal existence 70 earn a better Nv
ing. then no man can do a better days work
as all the white employers Of Negro In hor IN
Jamaica Will tell you. but as soon as he has
secured much he requires he goes or
work again II is with this Negro that the
American foreman chiefly has 20 deal and one
can but sympathize with him IN the painful
task OF making him work. He does not bit him
20 that end-no personal violence Is ever used
but ne r. apt 20 give him the rough edge OF his
tongue. and the spoiled British Negro resAnts
this and claims politeness In personal dealings
with himself on the score that he is a Rritisb
subject. ] spoke to some Of these foremen about
the Negroes under them. one man said. "Tf
you want 10 get the work out Of them you must
inst alWaVs keen the right side OF than, as Ions