Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-11-03
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SU somewhat more than II D
WI century ago by the Ilc)S
ITjU the first of the Pana- II H !
- man Obaldias. who III II
created a princely 4 NJ
estate from a royal grant OF land l
Mangote. situated about miles from
the town, is now in the hands of his
! .
\ great. .grandsons. whose father was
lately president of the republic. Be- Ss1Hoe1
fore the revolutionary days many \sHx4SxS&5
Chiricano landowners maintained q W&$
lordly estate in peace and prosperity. \W#&Es
David is attractive place. clean Sxs
and orderly a Dutch burg and pic l%4&ss
turesqLe Tyrolean hamlet. Along + 1AzS
the broad, drab lengths of the streets ~
lined modest dwellings with
whitewashed walls, red-tiled roofs and
blue and green doors and window
shutters. The most pretentous resi- rs -
dences more than twostored
frame structures with 10 at
most and patio in the rear. OF the
5000 inhabitants perhaps SO are well :. ~. !.
to do, in the conventional sense of 2ssssss32 ~ ~
the phrase. The remainder super ESSsssssssxz
latively poor, measured by the stand
ard of dollars and cents. but passing
rich in fact by reason of having
everything that they need and probably all they
desire. Everyone seems to secure easy live
lihood, but precisely how is difficult to determine.
hard worker is not to be seen, but neither Is
beggar nor a vagrant. and the municipality does
not boast any such institution almshouse.
However. the matter is divested of much of Its
irystery when one considers that land as prolific
Is any in the world is to be had for the taking,
and mans outfit of clothing consists of three
pieces-straw hat. shirt. and cotton trousers
while woman gets along very we'll with one gar
ment. and children not encountered to that
extent
Although the dry season was wenigh spent,
everything looked fresh and green the morning
that galoped out upon the llano on my way to
Divala. 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 at the end of ride. Man never
possessed less appropriate than his.
Pantaleon-"panther lon"-was possibly be-
slowed upon him in spirit of irony. He was
profoundly self-possessed and had the commend
able characteristic of confning his attention to
his own business and just much of his en-
poyer's properly concerned him.
Before stretched of the llanos. which
lie. like grassy islands in forest at intervals
all along the Pacific slope of the Cordlera. For
miles onward and on either side of us the
ground extended in a sweep as level as a billiard
table and green. With its thick covering Of
jenjebrillo. the tract looked strikingly like bit
of the blue grass country of Kentucky. Here and
there a wild FIG a ceibo threw its heavy-leafed
branches wide affording grateful shelter for man
and beast. On every side the close ranks of the
forest trees hemmed the llano in and away be-
yond in front the jabbed teeth of the
sierra, with the smoking of El volcan pro-
jecting beyond the ruck-
well-worn crack indicates the shortest route
~ the point where the road enters the forest
VzkQkeep 1t in sight for the sake of preserving
ox bearing. otherwise might ride unrestrain-
cay the darkest night over this fiat expanse.
unbroken by gules and devoid of burrows. In
fact, l have crossed 1t at hand gallop in
downpour of rain. when my horses ears were not
distiI yushable and the blurred lights of David
made a lurid beacon patch in the distance.
These llanos are the commons of the people
the poor mans grazing ground. We pass small
herds Of from 10 to 20 head nibbling the herbage
which is ample for sustenance but not sufficiently
rich and plentiful to condition them for market
Scattered the range few Mares with
foals at their heels In this country they ride
and work only the male horses, leaving the fe
bad system for It retards hereditary transmission
and results in the development of serviceable
qualities on one side only. The animals
dersized and the breed poor the best strain being
derived from Peruvian stations Despite his un
promising appearance. however. the Panamanian
pony is apt to surprise you with wonderful dis
play of stamina. I have been carried ffty-odd
miles by one in twelve hours and found him fit
for good days journey the next morning They
are easy-going beasts. with singlefoot gait. and
If O. e will be content to ride them in the manner
to which they accustomed. quite service
able as the average mount to be picked up in
Central or South America. 1t is distinctly advis-
able however, to get rid of the greasy FSsr bride
of the country, though better substitute
than a piece of clean rope is available. Failure
to take this precaution once cost me sore hand
of which not cured for weeks.
Now and again traveller joys by, with NUT
tered "Buenos dias"-a salutation that is never
omitted by man. child. The rider
wears a conical straw hat. cotton shirt. flap
ping free in the wind. and pair of blue jeans