IN PANAMA 235 



that bore this precious load always fell down when crossing a river, 

 and that the searching dampness of the atmosphere had been at work 

 at the films for many weeks, it is a wonder that any pictures at all were 

 obtained. Then came the drying of clothing and a supply of bread. 

 The Pioneer tried his hand at bread baking along the lines of his rice 

 pudding triumph, but the resulting solid cakes, scorched on the outside, 

 and dough within, could not be honestly termed the staff of life. By 

 splitting open and toasting them they were edible, and were eaten, all 

 but one, which I saved for a paper weight. 



On Sabado (Saturday) morning at 6.30, we broke camp and 



FOURTH OF JULY FIESTA AT LAS MINAS. 



started on what our guides claimed would be the hardest day's work 

 we had ever done, and it was. There was only one river to ford, the 

 Mariato, and Chiquita, knowing little beast, kept her feet, while the other 

 mules and horses were stumbling, plunging, and threatening to go 

 down stream with the swift current. Then began the steady climb, 

 over a trail that was like the bed of a brook, through underbrush that 

 tried the pack mules sorely, often stopping them completely until freed 

 by the use of the machete. I had an army saddle on Chiquita and a 



