The Arizona copper camp., 1920-01-17
BELIEVE it win surprise most
Americans, and perhaps a few OF

jungle wilderness, unmapped and
practically uninhabited in the interior
except for a few very primitive In
dians. Virtually the entire eastern
portion of the republic of Panama ly-
ing between the canal and Colombia,
roughly 300 miles long by from so to
100 miles wide, is unknown, and the
published maps Of this country, except
for the seacoast and the location of
half a 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 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 r and III.
Twenty-ninth United States infantry,
to make preliminary exploration
with view to planning and expedit-
ing it's accurate mapping by the en-
g1neer corps.
1t is because this little piece Of jun
gle probably will remain virgin and
unspoiled for many years that I think
it ought to be brought to the attention
of our field naturalists. 1t is so easily
accessible, and yet only the borders Of
it 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 it's exploration
will reveal.
In the Real Jungle.
In the Canal zone, which extends five
miles to either side Of the canal, prac-
tically all of the jungle forest has long
since been cut off, and in its place has
grown up a dense, impenetrable sec
ond group of small trees, palms, creep
ers, thofns, 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 a gigantic wall of
green verdure. Once in it 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, a 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
verdure, literally hiding the sky. Beau
tiful slender palms grow in great pro-.
fusion in the semidarkness forming
the lower growth, impeding ones view
but not ones progress. Scarcely ever
can one see more than SO yards, and
never does the explorer get an extend
ed view, even from the tops of the
highest mountains. When I first en-
tered the jungle it was with an inde-
scribable feeling Of awe and wonder,
and this feeling has never left me !;
nay, it persists, drawing me, calling
me to come back, more insistent even
than the "Call of the North
UnexpIored Mountain Ranges.
That part of the jungle in which my
most 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 inland to the head
waters Of the Chagres river system
Between the Chagres basin and the
Caribbean coast rises the cordillera Of
Cerro Bruja, mountain range that
starts about ten miles east of Colon,
and rises steadily, eliminating in the
peak of Cerro Bruja 1920 feet) about
Is miles south of the town of Porto
Belo. East of Cerro Bru1a 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 Piedras is
one of the largest rivers of Panama,
but you will not find it on any map,
even it's 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 I'M
worthy of name. Beyond the valley
of the upper Piedras rises really i'm
posing range of mountains called Ger
70 Saximo, eliminating in peak some
where south Of Nombre de Dois, which
must attain an altitude Of from 5000
to 5000 feet. I think / 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 hui
man beings, and it's presence is bare
ly noted on only one old map, with no
indication as to it's altitude.
Beyond Saximo neither I 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.