The Ordway new era., 1919-07-25
BELIEVE 1t will surprise most
Americans, and perhaps few of
our field naturalists, to learn that

Jul htih W thih thd
right at the back door of the
Panama canal lies an almost unknown
jungle wilderness, unmapped and
practically uninhabited in the interior
except for few very primitive In
Sdlans. Virtually the entire eastern
portion of the republic of Panama ly-
3ng between the canal and Colombia,
roughly 300 miles long by from 80 to
100 miles wide, is unknown, and the
published maps of this country, except
for the seacoast and the location of
half dozen small towns, are all
faxed, writes Lieut.. Col. Townsend
ayhelen In Natural History.
1t was my good fortune to spend the
entire dry seasons December to June)
of 1915 and 1917 exploring a part of
this country. We found 1t necessary
TO know something of that portion of
1T nearest the canal, and 1t fell to my
lot. assisted by Companies E and Fl.
Twenty-ninth United States infantry,
to make preliminary exploration
with view to planning and expedlt-
dng Its accurate mapping by the en-
gineer corps.
1t is because this little piece of jun
gle probably will remain virgin and
unspoiled for many years that think
1T ought to be brought to the attention
of our field naturalists. 1t is so easily
accessible, and yet only the borders of
1t have been scratched by the scien-
tist. No one yet knows what is in the
interior, what secrets it contains, what
new fauna and flora its exploration
will reveal.
In the Real Jungle.
In the Canal zone, which extends five
miles to either side of the canal, prac-
ticaliy all of the jungle forest has long
since been cut Off. and in its place has
grown up dense, impenetrable Sec
ond group of small trees, palms, creep
ers, thorns. and coarse grass. But If
one cuts his way through this tangled
growth for about five miles in from
the canal he comes to the real jungle
stnnding up like gigantic wall of
green verdure. Once in 1t all Is diff
ferent, even the very climate itself
Here one can wander Mt will, unim.
peded by thorns and creepers. 1t is
even easier travelling here than In the
woods of our own Northeast, because
as n rule there is much less down
timber. 1t is like new world, world
that one has not even read about.
From the blazing sun and sweltering
heat of the second growth one enters
what Is almost an underground world
cool and balmy. Everywhere the giant
trees go up fimbless for from 100 to
200 feet, and then spread out their
verdnre, literally hiding the sky. Beau
fifui slender palms grow In great pro
fusion in the semidarkness forming
the lower growth. impeding ones view
but not ones progress. Scarcely eveI
can one see more than so yards, ant
never does the explorer get an extend
ed view. even from the tops of tn,
highest mountains. When 1 first en-
tered the jungle 1t was with an inde
scrfbable feeling of awe and wonder
md this feeling has never left me
nay, 1t persists, drawing me, callin,
me to come back. more insistent evel
than the "Call Of the North"
UnexpIored Mountain Ranges.
That part of the jungle In which m.
most intensive exploration was con
Quoted lies to the east of the city o
Colon, between there and the town o
NOmbre de Dois, and extending fron
the Caribbean coast inland to the head
waters of the Chagres river system
Between the Chagres basin and tn
Caribbean coast rises the cordillera o
Cerro Bruja. a mountain range tina
starts about ten miles east of Colon
and rises steadily. eliminating in tn
peak of Cerro Bruja (3,2O0 feet) abou
ID miles south of the town Of Port