Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-07-25

n BELIEVE 1t will surprise most
Americans, and perhaps a few of
our field naturalists, to learn that
right at the back door of the
Panama canal lies an almost unknown
jungle wilderness, unmapped and
practically uninhablted III the interior
except for a few very primitive In
dams. Virtually the entire eastern
portion of the republic of Panama ly-
ing between the canal and Colombia,
roughly 300 miles long by from 80 to
400 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
Whelen in Natural History.
1t was my@good fortune to spend the
entire dry seasons December to June)
of 1916 and 1917 exploring a part of
this country. We found it necessary
to know something of that portion of
it nearest the canal, and it fell to my
lot, assisted by Companies Il and II.
Twenty-ninth United States infantry.
to make a preliminary exploration
with view to planning and expedit-
Ing its accurate mapping by the en-
gineer corps.
1t is because this little piece of jun
gle probably will remain virgin and
nnspoiled for many years that / think
It 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-
fist. No one yet knows what is in the
interior, what secrets it contains, what
new fauna and flora its exploration
svtll 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,
standing up like gigantic wall of
green verdure. Once in 1t all is diff
ferent, even the very climate itself.
Here one can wander at will, unim-
peded by thorns and creepers. 1t is
even easier travelling here than In the
woods of our own Northeast, because
as 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 limbless for from 100 to
200 feet, and then spread out their
yerdure, literally hiding the sky. Beau
tiful slender palms grow in great pro-
fusion III the semidarkneSS forming
the lower growth, impeding ones view
but not ones progress. Scarcely ever
can one see more than 80 yards, and
never does the explorer get an extend
ed view, even from the tops of the
highest mountains. When l first en-
tered the jungle it was with an indie
scribable feeling of awe and wonder,
and this feeling has never left me:
nay. 1t persists, drawing me, calling
me to come back, more insistent even
than the "Call Of the North"
unexplored Mountain Ranges.
That part OF the jungle in which my
Tnost intensive exploration was con-
Quoted lies to the east of the city Of
Colon, between there and the town of
Nombre de Dois, and extending from
the Caribbean coast i,land to the head
waters of the Chagres river system.
Between the Chagres basin and the
Caribbean coast rises the cordillera of
Carro Bruia, mountain range that
starts about ten miles east of Colon,
and rises steadily. eliminating in the
pe1A of Cerro Bruja 1920 feeO about
40 niles south of the town of Porto