14 A YEAR OF COSTA RICAN NATURAL HISTORY 



centimos (or, as exchange was in Limon just then, about 

 ^7-75 U. S.) for the transportation of our baggage. We made 

 this trip without incident, leaving Limon at 10.30 A. M. and 

 arriving in San Jose about 5.15 P. M., only fifteen minutes 

 late. 



Trains between Limon and Zent Junction could take one 

 of two routes, either plunging almost immediately into the 

 interior by way of the main line of the Northern Railway 

 via Castro and Zent, or following the sea beach for about 

 eleven miles north of Limon to Swamp Mouth and then 

 turning westward on the main line of the Costa Rica Rail- 

 way. On the first of these we traveled on Alay 3. For the 

 first thirty-eight miles or so the road ran through almost un- 

 interrupted banana farms, the names of which were posted 

 here and there, particularly over the gateways to the main 

 farmhouses. These were usually two-storied frame build- 

 ings surrounded by porches. The cabins occupied by the 

 negro workmen clustered around the stations, sometimes 

 only two or three together, at other places forming little 

 villages. Each cabin contained only one or two rooms; the 

 outside was usually whitewashed, the roofs either of palm 

 thatch or corrugated galvanized iron. Many of the farm- 

 houses and cabins were enlivened by surroundings of gay 

 and variously colored crotons, especially the farmhouse of 

 Monte Verde. At Gute Hoffnung (25 miles from Limon) 

 the whole country, forest and open, was flooded In early No- 

 vember; in some places the water was over the tracks, con- 

 cealing them completely and here the train slowed down 

 very perceptibly. The cabins of the negroes were built on 

 short piles, the necessity for which was made evident by 

 this flood for many cabins stood within little lakes. There 

 were almost no roads and the paths leading to the cabins 

 from the railroad bed were also lifted on piles out of the 

 water. 



