The Nome daily nugget., 1937-08-16


 Washington. D. C.-WNU Service. H ANCH life in the wilds of Ecua- H dor was the dream of an ad-
 venturous American couple.
 Together they have created a delightful home in the middle of an equatorial jungle. The Hacienda Rio Negro is located on the eastern slopes of the Andes, about two degrees south of the equator, at an altitude of some 5000 feet, on the north side of the Pastaza valley.
 The site itself is a tropical paradise A broad. beautifully wooded valley rises in range after range of hills oli each side of the falling Pastaza in series of tablelands.
 The most delightful feature of this equatorial Eden is the fact that there are no mosquitoes, and all nOzious in sects seem to be reduced to a mini mum.
 The nearest town, post office, and general supply depot is Banos, whose white-walled, red-roofed houses cling with a stoical, and several times mis placed, trust to the base of ,he Black Giant, Tungurahua, beautiful! shaped volcano.
 Leaving the lava-swept base of Tun gurahua at BanOs and the sem-arid ness of the Andean cradle, one pro gresses down the valley of the Pastaza past the Falls of Agoyan, higher than Niagara, and finds oneself getting gradually deeper and deeper into the | fringe of the jungle.
 At last, descending from Fl Mirador, where one sees a large section of the Pastaza river valley spread out, partly occupied by the hacienda. one emerges from the gorgeously orchid,lined trails into open pastures.
 Years before, an Ecuadoran had | partially cleared some of the land and had built four-roomed house In what he proudly called the "Ameri- | can style" The heavy tile roof had | fallen in; the rotten timbers which supported it, sagging with fatigue, had finally given up the struggle A bam- boo shack attached to one end of the house was alive with cockroaches.
 Keep In Touch With Radio.
 Everything had to be done with what resources were at hand. Immediate l purchases were impossible, for there were no convenient shops. Consequent ly they learned to improvlse, even when 1t was question of creating l Y, efficient water heater and pressure tank, a water wheel to run the dynamo to charge the radio battery, power. transmission belt, dressing for the belt, or kitchen drainboards out of roofing zinc. The whole hacienda, with its house and furnishings, may be put down as one large Improvisation.
 Radio links the jungle clearing with remote world. During one small political uprising in Guayaquil they heard the news broadcast from New York before the newspapers in the mountains had published 1t.
 The natives regarded the set with superstitiOus awe; but were more i'm pressed by being able to hear pro. grams from the mountain cities of Rio bamba and Quito than they were by European or North American progra ms All things outside Ecuador were for eign to their experience. but to heaI music from towns which many of then had visited was something at whic! they could really marvel.
 Fortunately the special Osier fibe: known as mimbre was found growing near the ranch. IL was readily adapted to the making of wicker furniture. Ir an incredibly short time strongly built comfortable chairs, chaise tongue and a table were fashioned by a ma tive cabinet maker.
 Passing Indians brought sacks ol kapok, which made soft cushions fol the chairs. mattresses for the beds and pack blankets for tine mules.
 Making Their Garden.
 There is no glass in the house win dows. Heavy shutters of wood car be closed when the rains beat dOwr too heavily. The temperature is st constantly mild that no further pro tection is needed. By dint of mucl hard work. complete water svsten