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

pertinent OF the Panaman government 10
force them to recognize the authority of
the president and his representatives will
be watched with interest. 1t is anticipat-
ed that numerous difficulties will result
and that serious clashes probably will be
frequent.
According to reports brought back from
the official trip. in many places the In
dams were none too friendly and at sew
eraI of the important villages the chiefs
refused to treat with the president. They
fatty informed the presidential ennis
saries that they would have nothing to
do with the white race and that they
knew nothing about the Panaman republic
and cared less.
At other villages, notably where many
Of the natives and most Of the chiefs had
been frequent visitors to Panarnan cities,
there was less trouble and the Indians
seemingly accepted the authority Of the
president. They permitted the hosting of
the Panaman flag and agreed to recognize
the government Curiously enough. at sew
eral of the villages visited the Colombian
flag was discovered serenely waving in
the breeze that almost continuously blows
off the Atlantic ocean on this coast. The
Indians said they had not heard that such
thing as the Republic of Panama ex-
listed.
At Rio Diabolo which is one of the
largest as well as one of the most i'm
portant towns on the coast. the party
inspected the mission and school OF
Q
several years. having gained the con-
fdence of the chiefs. These women.
Miss Anna Cope Of Providence. r. l..
and Mrs. Purdy. an Engltshwoman, now
in their religious and secular classes.
The capacity Of the children for ac-
curing knowledge Is said to be pro-
digfous.
about forty miles east of he port of
Colon, on the northern coasdyof the re-
public, for distance of a little more
than 200 miles to the ,, Atras t, river.
ma from the Republic Of Colombia.
The San Bias lands do not extend very
far inland. 1t is believed that the
coastal Indians seldom penetrate the
the coast. Their villages are on many
large and small islands which dot the
Bay of San Bias and the coast east
ward to practically the Colombian
are located at sheltered spots on the
mainland, but within easy communi-
cation by means Of thetr-sailing cayucas
with the island towns.
~
This section has been the ancestral
home of the Indians for centuries. They
were found here by the early Spanish
conquistadores. who frequently suffered
at their hands. The tribal traditions In
dictate that the San Bias Indians in the
early days were a very warlike race.
Their experiences with the rapacious
Spanish explorers were the direct cause
of the strict rule of excluding all for
eigners. They seemed to have realized
that to permit the entry of other races
would be to ring the deathkneH II their
own.
Exceptions to this rule have been
made from time to time. They have
been very few. however. and then I'M
der circumstances which assured the
Indians that the intruder had absolute
country or acquiring property rights.
The Indian has a peculiar idea on the
private ownership of lands He has
never sold foot of the territory along
the whole stretch OF the San Bias coast
and declares he never will. He holds
that the land was given his ancestors
for the common good of the tribe and
not for the good Of any Individual Ger