Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-08-04
PANAMA AND PORTO BELL0
BY CLIFF A. HARRIS.

cent years the ribbon OF land that
joins the continents Of North and I
South America has doomed large in
the public eye. Since the days of
Greece's glory no such small strip of
soil as the Isthmus OF Panama has
gained equal distinction. 1t has been
the subject Of epoch-making diplomacy
and sphere for political disturbance.
Panama is certainly the seat Of the
greatest engineering enterprise In his
tory, which is destined to largely rev.
olutionize the commerce OF the world
and influence the fortunes of nations.
The Republic of Panama Is divided
into provinces and these into NUM-
cipal districts. The canal route trav-
erses two OF these provinces, Colon
and Panama. The houses are usually
one story, square and whitewashed,
with roofs Of red tile. and verandas
in front. The inhabitants are content
ed and inclined to take life easy. Some
are fairly we'll informed, while few
are highly cultured.
Chiriqui became suddenly famous on
account of the interesting relics that
were unearthed there, from the guacas
or groves. History seems to be silent
. about the people who are buried In
great numbers there. The discovery
was made by Indians who were dig
IS. Gg a ditch to drain swamp lands.
INN nf 0n11 than
avlany Indians became gold hunters
nd many quaint images and orna-
hents were unearthed, worth many
Thousands OF dollars, Among the gold
abrnaments found in these guacas were
rtmany frogs. II seems the frog was
one Of their favorite types OF orna-
ments. | am told one OF the frogs OF
gold weighed eighteen ounces. Many
quaint little golden bells were found.
which when shaken emitted pleasant
musical sounds.
The famous Pearl islands OF Pan
anna lie In the gulf about forty miles
off the City OF Panama. At one time
they were probably as rich as any in
the world. The pearls OF Panama have
always been noted~for their size and
brilliance.
L think here along Chiriqui Bay
would be a favorable opportunity and
place for some OF our real estate men
to make a hit. Here are large areas
OF excellent grazing, farming, fruit and
coffee lands, as rich as any In the
tropics. When the canal is in use
there will be a ready and profitable
market for cattle as well as for all
kinds of fruits, etc. The climate Is
certainly delightful; the average TEN
perature is about so; always a re
freshing breeze blowing; at night one
at times uses light covering.
As sit here Aeon hill looms away
I'M skyward. | am told one can see
both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
from its summit One thing seems
very queer TO me-the sun rises In
the Pacific and sets in the Atlantic
All Central America is volcanic II
origin. as are most OF the West Indies
As a result, only about one-sixth o.
the surface is level. Many mountain
peaks tower up In its center fester
day quite an interesting little party o
us made a visit to old Porto Bello. l
was here that Morgan, the note'
pirate. after capturing the little pos
at the mouth OF Chagres river, mad
a desperate and successful charg'
against the fort and after capturing
Il took the nuns from the old convent
placed them in front OF his band o
pirates and charged old Panama. Afte
capturing the place he burned ever
house In the town. Our party ram
bled all over the old fort and counte
some fifteen or twenty old rusty can
mons. some still in position, wher
they have been the silent watchdog
OF old Porto Bello for the past tire
hundred years The cathedral. so a.
old Indian told me, Is over three huI
dred and fifty years old. 1t certain
looks 1t, for trees ten feet high ar
growing from its roof. After man
hours OF rambling through the quain
old place we noticed that the Indian
get their drinking water up the mour
tain, so all being thirsty We starte
out for the watering place. We climDe
and climbed, up through the dens
tropical underground, over rocks an
boulders. At every step someone woul
find something more beautiful than IN
last TO behold and wonder at. Hell
we saw great orchids growing froI
four to ten feet high out OF some cur
Gus tree, many bright and odd colore
flowers. strange, beautiful birds, tin
trailing delicate vines, great ferns
many species, butterflies with as man
colors as Joseph's coat. Indeed,
seemed we were in fairyland. At La
we found an open spot big enough
spread our dinner on, and oh, we d
eat! We could see the old ocean ava
in the distance, and the bright blu
of the sky above us, the tiny rivul'
trickling beside us, the birds and mo
keys welcoming us. 1t was a pictul
hard to forget. We gathered a re
guavas and chocolate beans to bril-
home with us, but large fruit, Ill
the papayas or bread fruit and ma
goes, were too bulky to carry. A
tired out and as dirty as pigs, we Q
bid a reluctant goodbye to the "Fou
tain of YOUTH" as Miss Martha Flel
ing, one of the ladies', named our lit
spring in the mountains Of Panama.
Interest in this engineering mary
is focusing attention on Central Anne
lea. and Panama, so soon to be divide
by the isthmian canal, is becoming
mecca for American tourist trav'
rrt .hn ta Tnn 1nnQ h1'