Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-11-10


dences more than two.storied MzssiERa =:
frame structures with 10 at So M
most and patio in the or the H
5000 Inhabitants perhaps SO are well = W !.
to do" In the conventional sense of %%SsNssS Ssss
the phrase The remainder super
lativey poor. measured by the stand
ard of dollars and cents, but passing
rich in fact by of having
everything that they need and probably all they
desire. Everyone seems to an easy live
hhood, 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 an amshouse.
However, the matter is Invested of much of it's
mystery when considers that land prolific
as 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 well with gar
ment, and children are not encountered to that
extent
Although the dry season well-nigh spent,
everything looked fresh and green the morning
that galloped out upon the llano on my way to
Dvala. My moso long, lean fellow with
melancholy visage, followed at a pace which he
never varied. but which later experience taught
could always be depended to bring him
up with at the end of ride. Man never
possessed less appropriate name than his.
sPantaleon-"panther 1ion"-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 SO much of his en-
ployer's properly concerned him.
Before us stretched of the llanos which
Ne. like grassy islands in forest sea, at intervals
all along the Pacific slope of the Cordlera. For
6 miles onward and either side of US the
ground extended in sweep as level as billiard
table and as green. With its thick covering of
jenjebrillo. the tract looked strikingly like BIT
of the bluegrass country of Kentucky. Here and
there wild fig ceibo threw its heavyleafed
branches WIDE affording grateful shelter for
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 cone OF Ell Volcan pro-
tecting beyond the ruck
well-worn crack indicates the shortest route
to the point where the road enters the forest
We keep IT in sight for the sake OF preserving
our bearing, otherwise one might ride unrestrain-
edly on the darkest night this fiat expanse.
unbroken by gulies and devoid of burrows. In
fact / have crossed 1t at hand gaflop in
downpour Of rain, when my horses ears we're not
distinguishable 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 20 head, nibblnga the herbage
which is ample for sustenance but not sufhclenty
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
males 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 are un.
d9rStZed ana the DFeeu poOTt the oocI uSih6
derived from Peruvian stations Despite his
promising appearance however the Panamanian
pony is apt to surprise you with wonderful dis
play of stamina. I have been carried hftyodd
miles by one in twelve hours and found him ht
for a good days Journey the next morning. They
are easy. going beasts with a snglefoot gait. and
If one win 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 or South America. It is distinctly advis
able however to get rid of the greasy hair bride
of the country even though no better substitute
than a piece of clean rope is availa'aa Failure
40 tale This nrecaution once cost me hand
of which | was not cured for weeks
Now and again traveller joys by! with NUT
tered "Buenos dias"-a salutation that Is never
omitted by man. woman or child The rider
wears conical straw hat cotton shirt flap
ming free in the wind. and pair of blue Jeans