The labor standard., 1919-09-01

Bello. East of Cerro Bruja peak the Rio Piedras rises almost in the basin of the Chagres, flows north around the base of Cerro Brujo, then west, and empties into the sea half way between Colon and Porto BellO. The Pledras Is one of the largest rivers of Panama, but you will not find 1t any map, even its mouth having been mistaken for lagoon of the sea when the coast line was charted.
 The Rio Grande, figuring largely on existing maps, is an insignificant little stream, several miles long, really un- worthy of a name. Beyond the valley of the upper Piedras rises a really im- posing range of mountains called Ger TO SaXimo, eliminating in peak some where south of Nombre de Dois, which must attain an altitude of from 5000 to 5000 feet. I think I am the only one who has ever viewed this range, as it seems to be invisible from any place where there is any trace of hu- man beings, and it's presence is bare ly noted on only one old map. with no indication as to its altitude.
 Beyond Saximo neither nor any, one else know what. There are rumors that the interior beyond is inhabited by Indians of the San Bias (Cuna- Cuna) tribe, and that they are very hostile to invasion of their country by whites.
 Plant and Animal Life.
 I must confess to absolute incom- potency when it comes to description of the flora of the jungle, incompe- tency both scientific and linguistic. l doubt if the jungle as whole can be described-it can only be maryeled at. It is beautiful, appealing, terrifying. never cease to wonder at the trees giant moras, borigon, cavanfllesia. ceibas, rubber, and fig. The enormous trunks with great buttressed roots rise 100 feet without a limb, and then spread out literally to hide the sky. Limbs, so high that one can scarcely see them among the leaves, drop Hanas to the ground-long tangled lines like the wrecked rigging of some masted ship. Then there is the secondary growth, hundred varieties of tree ferns and palms, suited by nature to grow in semidarkness, robbed of the sunlight by their giant neighbors.
 The bird life is no less wonderful than the vegetation. The Panama jungle is, alive with birds. The variety and colorIng are truly remarkable. On the ground observed several varieties of quail, tfnamou, and pheasants. In the low-bush area are wrens, humming birds, thrushes, ant birds, and va riety of other species either common to the United States or unknown to me. In the medium zone, half way to the leafy ceiling of the jungle, dwell doves, guans, owls, motmots, and tro- gans High up in the roof are parrots. parrakeets, macaws, toucans, and cotingas.
 The mammal life of the jungle is also very abundant. The ordinary traveller, however, will see little of it owing to several conditions which only a man with extensive hunting or col lecting experience will realize. Among the animals observed were tapir, deer. peccary, agoud, paca, sloth, coati-mundi, kinkajou, anteaters, mon- keys, otter, puma, jaguar Spotted and black), ocelot, squirrels. opossums of many varieties, and rabbits.
 Snakes were fairly numerous. the harlequin snake, boa constructors, and very long and thin bright green tree snake being the most numerous.
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