The Glenwood post., 1911-11-04

Mangote, situated about miles from \
the town, is in the hands Of his
great-grandsons, whose father
/.
lately president of the republic. Be- -
fore the revolutionary days many S4.iSsz&s&
Chricano landowners maintained a III -
lordly estate In peace and prosperity. S&&%
David is attractive place, clean \K&SMs8
and orderly Dutch burg and pic lsAS
turesqLe as Tyrolean hamlet Along r 4aaks43
the broad, drab lengths of the streets
are lined modest dwellings with
whitewashed walls red-tiled roofs, and
blue and green doors and window
shutters The most pretentious resi- lasa ~
dences are more than twostoried -
frame structures, with 10 rooms at
most and patio in the OF the
5000 Inhabitants perhaps so are well -
to do" in the conventional sense Of - s32s
= the phrase. The remainder are super
latfvely poor, measured by the stand
ard of dollars and cents, but passing
4 rich in fact by Of having
everything that they need and probably all they
o desire Everyone seems to an easy live
3 lhood but precisely how is difficult to determine.
= hard worker is not to be seen but neither is
Ia beggar nor vagrant, and the municipality does
e not boast any such institution almshouse.
However. the matter is divested of much of its
mystery when considers that land as prolific
as any in the world is to be had for the taking,
and L. )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 not encumbered to that
extent.
Although the dry season was well-nigh spent
everything looked fresh and green the morning
that galloped out upon the llano my way to
Dvala. My moso, long, lean fellow with a
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 less appropriate name than his
Pantaleon-"panther lion"-was possibly be-
slowed upon him in spirit of irony. He was
profoundly selfpossessed and had the commend
able characteristic of confining his attention to
his own business and just much of his
ployers properly concerned him.
Before us stretched one of the llanos, which
lie like grassy islands in forest sea- intervals
all along the Pacific slope of the Cordillera. For
miles onward and 2 either side of us the
ground extended in a sweep level a billiard
table and green. With Its thick covering Of
1enjebrillo the tract looked strikingly like a bit
of the bluegrass country of Kentucky. Here and
there wild fig cebo threw its heavy-eafed
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 our front the jabbed teeth of the
sierra. with the smoking cone Of FL Volcan pro-
jecting beyond the ruck
weworn crack indicates the shortest route
10 the point where the road enters the forest
We keep 1t in sight for the sake of preserving
our ring, otherwise one might ride unrestrain
edly the darkest night this fiat eXpanse
= un broken by gullies and devoid of burrows. In
nct, l have crossed 1t at hand gallop in
abwnpour of rain. when my horses not
dlstnguishable and the blurred lights of David
made lurid beacon patch in the distance.
These llanos the commons of the people
1.-The poor mans grazing ground. We pass small
herds of from 10 to 20 head, nibblng 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-
males constantly at grass. This is obviously
and results in the development of serviceable
qualities side only. The animals are
derszed 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. l have been carried fifty-odd
Tor good days journey the next morning. They
O.. will be content to ride them in the manner
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 sAir bride
than piece Of clean rope is available. Failure
to take this precaution once cost sore hand
of which was not cured for weeks.
Now and again traveller jogs by, with NUT
tered "Buenos dias"-a salutation that IL never
kmitted by man. woman or child. The rider
kssrs q conical straw hat q cotton shirt, flap
~ in the wind and a pair Of blue jeans