PAN DE GUAJAIBON 279 



It is there that the competitive struggle for life, 

 sustained upon adulterated foods and many stimu- 

 lants, reduces man to a very real necessity for 

 constant attention to his weakening organs. Under 

 such artificial conditions of life everyone's standing 

 army of leucocytes becomes disorganized and in- 

 efficient, and humanity's war against its greatest 

 foe, the disease germs, must be fought with ever 

 newly devised weapons. Hence the importance to- 

 day of antisepsis, the tons of carbolic acid, the 

 throat gargles, and serums. Our natural defenses 

 are becoming worn out. Although nature continues 

 as always to preserve the fit, science must now 

 strive harder and harder to keep alive the unfit. 



As we emerged from the tobacco barn, clouds 

 of mist rolled down the sides of Guajaibon, gradu- 

 ally dissipating as the rising sun gathered force. 

 Soon came a little breeze, and we spread out our 

 arms to extend our damp clothes to the wind, as 

 do the buzzards their wings. The morning coffee 

 function, amid the hungry animals, was shortened 

 to the minimum of time, so eager were we to resume 

 our work. Once aboard our sleepy ponies we took 

 the shorter route to the coast, making directly 

 through the lowland forest for La Mulata. This 



