The Isthmus in 1904 17 



of them close to the camps occupied by the laborers 

 during the days of the French Canal Company. 

 They were located apparently with reference to 

 proximity to work and many were near a conven- 

 ient source of water supply. At the time these 

 camps were established, nothing was known regard- 

 ing the transmission of malaria. Better locations 

 were available, but they were in nearly all cases 

 far distant from the canal. Some of the camps 

 had been abandoned altogether and could not be 

 reached without cutting pathways through the 

 jungle. 



In some cases, where the rafters had decayed 

 and the roofs had collapsed, trees with a diameter 

 of ten inches were growing inside the buildings. 

 The natural watercourses were overgrown by 

 dense jungle, and nearly all of the villages were 

 practically in the jungle itself. The French 

 engineers had, for drainage purposes, placed 

 masonry Uned ditches near some settlements, and 

 the work was excellent ; it is in as good condition 

 to-day as at the date of completion, and will prob- 

 ably remain so for many years to come. 



In June, 1904, about iioo laborers were em- 

 ployed in canal work at Culebra; they lived in 

 the adjacent villages, and very few isolated houses 

 existed in the bush. Many of the old French 



