IX PANAMA 



-23 1 



rubber, whether it gets into comb or honey, I do not know, but they 

 certainly work most energetically in gathering it. 



By cutting down a few trees on the top of a lofty ridge near camp, 

 a fine view of the country was developed, from the source of the Mariato 

 River to the sea, the llanos, the Suoy River, and even the far away gulf. 

 It was wonderful how Lucas could pick out the Castilloa miles away 

 from this eyrie, and without apparent mistake either. 



After a few days at Iguana, we began to look anxiously for the 

 return of the mules, for food was getting scarce, and worse than all, 

 the coffee was nearly gone. Although signs of deer were plentiful, the 

 hunter could get none, and even parrots and monkeys were not in evi- 



SUGAR MILL NEAR LAS MINAS. 



[On Las Margharitas Plantation.] 



dence. There was, to be sure, a land crab that the Indians caught occa- 

 sionally. It was as big as a saucer, with a bright blue body, red legs, 

 and eyes set on props an inch long. It was as giddy looking as a Chicago 

 runabout, and apparently about as edible. Just as we were tiring of rice 

 and weak coffee, the Pioneer mixed some boiled rice with condensed 

 milk, put it in a small pan on the fire, then laid a piece of tin over the 

 pan, and built another fire on that. An hour later we were feasting 

 upon as fine a rice pudding as ever was cooked. And at that time the 

 pack train appeared, and ere long we were on our way back to Rio 

 Negro camp. 



