THE SAN BLAS PEOPLE 



ing, led close to several islands, massed to the 

 water's edge with grass houses. We made no 

 attempt to land, for these were Colombian 

 Indians and unfriendly. This was Panama, 

 to be sure; nevertheless, the Colombian colors 

 floated over these villages, and, as we drew 

 near, additional emblems of the same sort 

 were unfurled. Men ran out with flags the 

 size of handkerchiefs, on short staves, which 

 they thrust into the sand the San Bias 

 manner of emphasizing the fact that they 

 were not at home to callers. 



Cardi, the "Place of Dead Bones," is the 

 largest and best village at the western end of 

 the archipelago. It occupies a key perhaps a 

 quarter of a mile long and four feet high, but 

 it is a beehive. Great palm-thatched houses, 

 many of them sixty feet or more in length, 

 crowd one another so closely to the water's 

 edge that only here and there is room left 

 to draw up the cayucas. To walk around 

 it without wading is impossible. It flew the 

 flag of Panama, in honor of Governor Huer- 

 tado's visit, as did a twin village close by. 

 But between these two stood a third island, 

 and over it the Colombian emblem fluttered 

 brazenly. 



"3 



