The Red Cloud chief., 1911-11-02


rich In fact BY reason Of havnR
everything that they need and probably all they
desire. Everyone seems to secure an easy live
lihood, but precisely how is dficult to determine
A hard worker is not to be seen. but neither 10
q beggar nor q vagrant. and the municipality does
not boast any such institution almshouse.
However. the matter is divested Of much Of its
mystery when one considers that land as prolific
as any In the world Is to be had for the taking
and q 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 are not encumbered to that
extent
Although the dry season was wcll-nigh spent
everything looked fresh and green the morning
that galloped out upon the llano on my way to
Divala My moso. long. lean fellow with
melancholy visage. followed at a 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 a ride. Man never
possessed q less appropriate name than his
Pantaleon-"panther lion"-was possibly be.
slowed upon him In 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-
ployers as properly concerned him.
Before us stretched one Of the llanos, which
lie. like grassy islands in forest sea- at intervals
all along the Pacific slope OF the Cordillera For
miles onward and on either side Of us the
ground extended In q sweep RS level as billiard
jenjebrillo. the tract looked strikingly like bit
Of the bluegrass country Of Kentucky. Here and
there wild hg or q ceibo threw its heavyleafed
branches wide. anording 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 rose the jabbed teeth OF the
sierra. with the smoking cone Of II Volcan pro.
jecting beyond the ruck.
well-worn crack indicates the shortest route
TO the point where the road enters the forest.
We keep II in sight for the sake Of preserving
our bearing. otherwise one might ride unrestrain.
: edly on the darkest night over this fiat expanse.
unbroken by gullies and devoid Of burrows In
fact have crossed It at a hand gallop In
downpour Of rain. when my horses ears were not
dstinguishable and the blurred lights OF David
made 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, n;hblng the herbage.
which 10 ample for sustenance hut not suniciently
rich and plentiful to condition them for market.
Scattered over the range are a few mares. with
foals at their heels. In this country they ride
and work only the male horses leaving the f.
males constantly at grass. This 10 obviously
bad system for II retards hereditary transmission
and results In the development Of serviceable
qualities on one side only The animals are un.
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 q wonderful dis
play OF stamina. have been carried hftyodd
miles BY one In twelve hours and found him at
for good days journey the next morning. They
are easy.gong beasts. with singe-foot gait. and
n one will be content to ride them In the manner
to which they are accustomed. quite - service
able a. the average mount to be picked up In
Central or South America. 1t IL distinctly advs.
able however to get rid Of the greasy hair bride
Of the country, even though no better substitute
than piece Of clean rope 10 available. Failure
TO take this precaution once cost me sore hand
Of which was not cured for weeks.
Now and again traveller joys BY. with mutt.
tered "Buenos dias"-a salutation that 10 never
omitted by man. woman or child. The rider
wears a conical straw hat. q cotton shirt. hap.
ping free In the wind. and pair Of blue Jeans.