and vest, a loose coat of the thinnest material, and a
broad brmimed jipijapa hat of fine texture; while the
African, breeched or unbreeched, broiled in simplicity
unconstrained. The nationality of foreigners disap-
peared under the hizarrcne of their accoutrements;
the gentleman gold-hunter found a woollen shirt,
cotton pantaloons, and straw hat very comfortable.
Jipijapa hats, commonly called Panamd, hats, are not
made in Panama, but in Peru and elsewhere. They
might be had for two or three dollars, and up to fifty,
and even more. The Spanish Creole gentleman, who
is usually slight but wiry, in complexion sallow, with
black hair and eyes, and always a moustache, if his
purse permitted would wear white pants, and appear
to the best advantage. There was no lack of beauty
shining from the half veiled faces of the sciioritas,
with their white dresses, in red and yellow ribbon
trimmings, and bright colored slippers often covering
stockingless feet. The dress of the better class was
at this time becoming European, black being the pre-
vailing color.
The population of the Isthmus consisted mostly of natives. Some parts of the country had not been conquered, and several of those conquered had been abandoned by the conquerors, who found it beyond their power to occupy them and subdue nature, even if unmolested or assisted by the Indians. Besides Indian and African, and Indian and Spanish inter- mixtures, Spanish was infinitely crossed with African, of which Carib blood Avas then most prominent. These remarks refer especially to the coast region. In the interior departments, like that of Chiriqui, a purer white element predominated then as now. The most dano^erous characters were the vao-abonds from the shores of the Antilles, who had been drawn to the Isthmus since the Californian passenger traffic com- menced. The government, not having the means to support a sufficiently large police force, such as the existing circumstances demanded, authorized the rail-
