Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-11-03


everything that they need and probably all they
desire. Everyone to secure an easy live
nhood but precisely how is difficult to determine
hard worker is not to be seen but neither is
a beggar dor vagrant and the municipality does
not boast any such institution as an almshouse
However. the matter is Invested of much of it's
mystery when considers that land as prolific
as any in the world is to be had for the taking
and mans outfit of clothing consists of three
pfeces-straw hat shirt, and cotton trousers
while a woman gets along very well with one gar
ment. and children not encountered to that
extent
Although the dry weIl-nigh spent,
everything looked fresh and green the morning
that galloped out upon the ilano on my way to
Dvala My moso, long, lean fellow with
melancholy visage. followed at pace which he
never varied but which later experience taught
me could always be depended to bring him
up with me at the end of ride. Man never
possessed a less appropriate name than his
Pantaleon-"panther lon"-was possibly be-
slowed upon him In a spirit of irony He was
profoundly self-possessed and had the commend
able characteristic of combining his attention to
his own business and just much of his
ployers as properly concerned him.
Before stretched of the llanos which
lie. like grassy islands in forest sea- at intervals
all along the Pacific slope Of the Cordera. For
miles onward and either side of US the
ground extended in sweep as level billiard
table and as green With its thick covering OF
jen5ebrflc. the tract looked strikingly like bit
of the bluegrass country of Kentucky Here and
there wild fig a ceibo threw its heavy-leafed
branches wide affordng grateful shelter for man
and beast On every side the close ranks of the
forest trees hemmed the ano In. and away be-
yond IN our front rose the jabbed teeth Of. the
sierra. with the smoking cone of Ell Volcan pro-
5ecting beyond the ruck
well-worn crack indicates the shortest route
to the point where the road enters the forest
We keep 1t in sight for the sake of preserving
our bearing. otherwise one might ride unrestrain-
eddy the darkest night over this fat exranse.
unbroken by gues and devoid of burrows. In
fact, have crossed It at hand gallop in
downpour of rain. when my horses were not
dstinguishabe and the blurred lights of David
made lurid beacon patch In the distance
These llanos the commons of the people
the poor mans grazing ground. We pass small
herds OF from 10 to 90 head. nibbng the herbage
which Is ample for sustenance but not sufficiently
rich and plentiful to condition them for market
Scattered over the range are few mares with
foals at their heels. In this country they ride
and work only the male horses. leaving the fe
.maes constantly at grass. This is obviously
bad system, for It retards hereditary transmission
and results in the development of serviceable
qualities on one side only The animals
derszed and the breed poor the best strain being
derived from Peruvian stations Despite his
promising appearance. however the PanamaniaD
pony is apt to surprise you with wonderful dis
play OF stamina. | have been carried fifty-odd
miles by one in twelve hours and found him fit
for good days journey the next morning They
are easy-going beasts with single-foot gait and
II one VIII be content to ride them in the manner
to which they are accustomed quite as service
able as the average mount to be picked up in
Central South America. 1t is distinctly advis
able however, to get rid of the greasy hair bride
of the country even though better substitute
than piece of clean rope is available Failure
to take this precautfon once cost me sore hand
of which was not cured for weeks
Now and again traveller joys by. with NUT
tered sBuenos dias"-a salutation that is never
omitted by man. woman or child The rider
wears a conical straw hat, cotton shirt flap
ping free in the wind and a pair of blue jeans