IN PANAMA 
241 
of our clothes, we prepared to assume the habiliments of civilization. The 
first thing was to induce the hotel management to open the bathroom 
and furnish water. After a forenoon of persuasion that was finally accom- 
plished, and we felt better, even if the hotel employes did not. Then 
followed a visit to the cable office, a second exploration of the city, and 
preparations for passage to New York, on the good ship Yucatan , which 
was to sail, and did sail, on the day following. 
In our journeys about the city and along the line of the canal, I 
tried 4s far as possible to get close to the people — that is, in the way of 
mental, not physical contact. Of the native Panamanians I found some 
exceedingly well educated and active, sane, business men. They were, 
almost without exception, most pronounced in favor of the annexation 
of the young republic by the United States. The mass of the people, 
however, apparently wish only to be let alone, and resent the bustling 
ways of the Americans. I should say also that there was an exaggerated 
idea, in their minds, concerning the prowess of the Americans, particu- 
larly the trim looking marines who walked the streets as if each individ- 
ual could put an army to flight. 
That the canal would be put through and in less time than is 
generally believed, all of the business men were agreed, and that both 
Colon and Panama City would one day, under the American engineers, be 
free from yellow fever and as habitable and safe as Singapore or Havana 
none doubted, but that either city would be of great commercial import- 
ance once the canal was finished was not predicted. 
