Evening star., 1935-08-26


time to time he is sending 6GcS
accounts of his adventures, and
these tpiu appear here. The first
of his stories tollo,cs. Mr. Green
hail. uho is in his early 20S,
and has master OF science degree
from the University of Michigan.
has been associated on previous
erpeditions Dith DR.. Raymond L.
Ditmrrs, curator OF the Bronr Zoo,
NeU York.
BY ARTHUR N. GREENHALL.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (by air.
maiD.-I have donned many an odd
costume for hunting geological specl-
mems while working tropical coun-
tries. In Panama. DR.. Raymond l..
Ditmars of the New York Geological
Park Bronx zoo) and I attended
numerous social functions prior to
our actual hunting for vampire bats
and snakes. In Cuba a few years ago
I used only my birthday clothes to
catch turtles. But this is the first
time I ever put on a tuxedo as a
means to an end for collecting snakes.
The train from Port Limon had not
arrived in San Jose five minutes be-
fore I was informed that must go
to the formal dance at the Gran
Hotel, Costa Rica.
Dancing was the fartheSt thing
from my mind at the moment; the
boat voyage had been exceedingly
rough from Jamaica to Panama; at
Panama 1 had travelled over $50 miles
in six hours: and then arriving at
Port Limon, the Atlantic gateway to
Costa Rica, 100-nile train ride had
to be undertaken to San Jose, the
mountain capital. The actual dis
tance by air is approximately 40 miles,
but seven to eight hours are required
for the train to make the journey.
Locomotive Breaks Down.
At Turrialba, about half way up,
the locomotive broke it's left driving
arm and we were held up for over
an hour. This accident was highly
amusing for the majority of the male
passengers, who hoped of the train
and in a hundred different tongues
offered suggestions to the surprised
engineer, who just scratched his head
and took things easy until the emer-
gency engine arrived.
when would we arrive in San
JOSEF" inquired.
"Quien sabe?" was the reply. May
be one, two. three hours late! What
Is the difference anyway"
Wheeling and groaning. the train
arrived in San Jose. My hotel was
all arranged for. and I headed for
q cab. I could just picture that hotel
room. the shower and bed. How I
would make up for sleepleSs nights
and exahusting days-for a total Of
six hours Of sleep! But I had de-
luded myself. Friends were waiting
for me. and their greeting was: Get
your tuxedo out Of the moth balls.
We are going TO the big dance to-
night
Must go tonight?" I pleaded.
Isl, como mol" they told me. Ger
tainly, why not? Sleep, pouf, pouf,
any time you can sleep. and besides
nobody sleeps in San Jose when Wis
itor comes to town."
Dances for Snakes.
AS fought my way into the tuxedo.
realized that I had to dance for my
snakes. Contacts and knowing the
right people, being accepted by them
as friend and trustworthy person,
are of prime Importance to the for
eigners who would hunt geological
specimens in the tropics. At the
grand baile celeste" as the dance
had been christened, received invi-
tationS to spend time at several
ranches to try to get as many animals
as I could get. That is the way Of
the Lat;n-American.
What gay affair the dance turned
out to be! Exotic rumbas and Amer
ican waltzes were intermingled. Beau
tiful senoritas, for whom San Jose Is
noted, were everywhere. Native
maracas, the ball-like gourd filled
with pebbles, could be heard above the
blare of the trumpets. Dance you
must and there was no getting away
from it. Every one was having the
time of his life, except the American
tourists who stood on the sidelines.
Between the dances you did your
talking and met new people and
every now and then you squeezed in
q word as to why you were in the
country.
= Hasty Business Methods Taboo.
Most business here is done at social
functions and at the club. You must
talk about everything but your busi-
ness; you must meet every one to
make as many friends as possible.
they will either like you or not, and
that you find out according to the
progress you make. In this manner,
and only this, can a person hope to
make his contacts. The hasty busi-
ness methods of the Northerner are
taboo in these parts. However, if the
stranger follows this ritual, he will find
that Latin American hospitality, and
especially Costa Rican hospitality,
cannot be equaled anywhere.
The dance, for my party, broke up
at o'clock in the morning and again
the happy thought Of sleep crept into
my mind. It soon departed in
. hurry.
You can sleep all day tomorrow"
my friends said, land be fresh for
the other dance in the evening. But
now you must wait an hour and see
one Of our famous sunrises."
was whisked away to La Sabana," I"
q large field where various sports are
held, to watch the beautiful shades of
red that heralded the coming of a new
Costa Rican day.
I finally escaped to bed at O'Clock,
O little over "a hours without sleep
and cllssinP out those snakes, To
think I had to dance for them!
(Copyright 1885 by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. 1nco