The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-10-11

a nearing completion between
W the cities OF Colon and Pana-
ma, will tell of his occasional
elimpses Of the virgin forests and OF
his experiences with the natives, sup
plementing his narrative. perhaps,
with pictures Of the jungle and Of
what he took for aboriginal Indians
says a writer in the Geographical
Magazine
In fact, if our friend has followed
the customary route, limiting his itin-
erary to train ride from Colon
across to Panama, with stops at Gatun
and Pedro Miguel, to inspect the locks,
and at Culebra to see the big cut. be
Knows very little Of the real coun-
Try, and IN ninety-nine cases out OF
hundred his native Indians are likely
features.
There is undeniably plenty Of jun
gle and thicket along the future canal,
but 1t is almost wholly second growth;
and in those places where the prime
val vegetation has been spared, as in
the swampy lowlands between Gatun
and Bohio and in the sleeper declivi-
ties of the hills, it is and has always
been more or less stunted and scarce
and SO does not give an adequate idea
Of the majestic forests that still cover
about twO-thirds OF the territory OF
the Republic of Panama.
If, however. our tourist is man
Of leisurely habits, a stranger to the
hurried ways of the present genera
ton. he may leave the beaten track,
pick up the wanderers stock and go
tramping over the excellent ROADS
built parallel to the railroad and the
canal b. the government Of the Canal
Zone He will then meet occasionally
some last vestige Of the aboriginal
vegetation and examples of the won
derful rankness Of tropical plant
life.
Not far from Pedro Miguel, on the
way to Panama, stands cluster or
Cavanillesia trees once part OF the
forest but today shading a pasture.
Apart from the striking effect OF their
huge straight trunks, which are out
Of proportion with their insignificant
fiat crowns, these particular specl-
mems are of especial interest on &C
count Of the fact that they gro"
nearly at the extreme northwestern
areal limit OF the species EAST
ward, in Colombia, it seems to reach
the Magdalena river and southward 1t
can be followed along the coastal plains
as far as Peru.
In thus wandering across the couh-
try instead of keeping exclusively TO
railroad trains. the traveller Will nave
occasion many times 70 wonder a'
the indescribable luxuriance OF Vege-
table life in general and to observe
the never ending struggle for So
premacy.
Real Indians.
AS to the real Indians, he may sue
ceed in getting look at some maze
specimens along the wharves or Coioli
or around the market IN Panaiha
City: but the chances are that thes
will mostly pass unnotlced IN tue
motley crowd of mixed races OF
the larger towns. At least elgnt
tenths of the native inhabitants
of the republic show to more oi
less marked extent the stamp OF Al
rcan blood and the most extraor
dinary cases Of inter breeding are %
served everywhere
East OF the canal. however, ana no
taking the aboriginal tribes into con
sideration. the negro element vastly
predominates the settlements or for
to Bello Nombre de Dios. Paiasqa'
and Vineto Frio. on the Carlopeai
sea. being formed, as 1t seems, by oe
scendants of both West Indians ant
Spanish slaves, and the villages
the Pacific coast-Chepo, Gilman
Garachine-and those in the Tuyr'
basin by the latter only. West or tn
canal the predominance or the Al
rican element becomes less marx
cd ut least on the southern side
the country. as one goes farther u
ward Chiriuui. where the whites an
the civilized Indians have the pppe
hand
In the wears 1901 to 1903. when ROC
rieuez de Bastidas and Christophe
Columbus visited the northern coas
of the isthmus, they found 1t dense
" populated About ten years late
Balboa met with Identical condition
along the southern coast, and all sui
-..~."s eaaen. reports OF eaEIg explorers Civ
evidence of the fact that the whcl
country was in possession OF mime
Gus clans, the names OF many OF whic
..- have been preserved.
che two principal nations were Ia
Cuaymies, extending from the Gnu