Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-19

tain private rights. however. are recog-
nized in cocoanut trees and other grow
ing things. Should the owner abandon
these they then revert to the owner
ship of the tribe as a whole.
A few months ago an American, James
Hyatt, who resides at Colon, desired to
open manganese mine in the Bay of
San Bias neighborhood. He went to the
head chief of the district with his
proposition to purchase the land out
right. He was refused with the expla-
nation that the land was not for sale
The chief. however. said there would
be no opposition to the mine being
worked and a deal was concluded on
that basis. Today the American is min
ing with the understanding that when
he has taken all the mineral he desires
or the vein has played out he will re-
move his machinery and other equip
ment from the land.
A few traders who make their head
quarters at Colon make occasional
trips to the Indian country Their
visits heretofore have been with the
understanding that when their business
with the Indians has been concluded
they are to return whence they came
as speedily as possible. They have
never been permitted to remain ashore
over night. One of these traders, an
American, Robert Wilcox. who has
grown wealthy out of his trade along
the San Bias coast. is said to be re-
sponsible for the curious fashion the
San Bias Indian now has of wearing
very small hat, either straw or felt.
When Wilcox first went to the Indian
country to trade he discovered a cou-
pie Of chiefs wearing crude little native
woven hats. which were SO small in
the crown that they sat perche,l on the
very top of the head. 1t seemed a mys-
terry how these diminutive hats were
kept in position. Wilcox never at
tempted to solve the problem, but an
idea came to him. He ordered from
the United States a large shipment of
very small bowler or derby hats They
were Of the fashion usually seen on
the heads of Dutch comedians who do
the small town vaudeville circuits
The comedy bowlers came and Will
schooners. The San Bias Indians took
to them Immediately, and within a
short tive practically every native
along the coast was the proud pos
Robert Wilcox is one of the few for
eigners who has been welcome on the
San Bias coast. In all the years he
has been going there. however, he has
night. He has respected the conditions
imposed, with the result that he is
wholly trusted by all the chiefs and
is frequently visited by them on their
men have not been so fortunate and
none has ever enjoyed the same meas
ure of confidence and trust reposed in
Mr.. Wilcox.
Less than a year ago several French
men attempted to traverse the San
Bias country for the purpose of reach
ing gold mine in the Darien region,
which they had purchased from an
English syndicate. The mine Is said
to be good and is believed to have
been one of those originally discov-
cred and owned by the Spaniards. How
ever, in many years no gold has been
taken from it because of the hostility
of the Indians. The Frenchmen re-
turned to Panama and enlisted the aid
of the Panaman government. which
agreed to send a detail OF national
police with the party on a return trip.
The indians refused to recognize the
authority Of the Panaman government
and chased the police back to the boat
on which they had arrived. Although