Vasco, Our Little Panama Cousin Page 5

  CHAPTER II.

  ABOUT THE CITY

  PERHAPS you would like to know more about Vasco Barretas--who he is,his home, his surroundings, his occupations, his ambitions. Of the twolatter there is little to be said. Like many of the boys of Panama,he had no occupation--not even going to school--and no particularambition. If any thought of the future ever did come into his mind, itwas quickly forgotten for some pleasure of the moment.

  It is fair to Vasco to say that it was not his fault that he did notattend school. Under the Colombian government there had been no publicschools. There had been a few private schools under the care of thepriests, but their equipment was very poor, and accommodations werelimited.

  Under the new government there was destined to be an improvement inthis respect, and the year after the Panama Republic declared itsindependence, there were more than three thousand children in theschools, though previous to that there had been less than five hundred.

  Vasco's home was a humble one, though it does not follow that it wasunhappy. The contrary was the fact.

  There were two children younger than Vasco,--Inez, his eight-year-oldsister, and the little baby brother Carlos. The parents loved theirchildren as fathers and mothers do everywhere, and were willing tosacrifice much for their welfare.

  Both Lieutenant Barretas and his wife boasted of their Spanishancestry, though they were of mixed descent, and there was evidenceof Jamaica negro blood in their features. Perhaps this accounted forVasco's aversion to hard labour, though the strict truth of historydoes not reveal that the early Spanish discoverers were specially fondof manual toil.

  Though Vasco's home could boast no luxuries, he had never seen thetime when there was lack of food, and for clothing all he required wasa pair of trousers and a shirt, both made of cheap linen cloth. Boyreaders will realize the glorious possibilities in such a scanty attire.

  Much of his time Vasco spent about the streets of the city, indulgingin sports and games with boys of his own age. Often he went to thewater-front and watched the loading and unloading of vessels. Hespecially liked to watch the fishermen as they came in with theirlittle vessels, and brought their finny harvest ashore.

  Fish are very abundant in Panama waters. The name of the city means"abounding in fish." Years ago many whales were caught off the coast,and whaling vessels were a common sight in the harbour.

  A STREET IN PANAMA]

  At present, in addition to the edible fish, sharks are numerous in thePacific near Panama. On one occasion Vasco had gone on a short fishingtrip in one of the larger boats with the father of a boy friend. Ashark was seen following the boat, and in consequence other fish werescared away.

  To rid themselves of the unwelcome intruder the fishermen attached apiece of pork to a large fish-hook held by a small chain. To this wasfastened a stout rope. No sooner was the baited hook cast overboardthan the shark made a rush for it and swallowed it whole. When he foundhe was caught, there was a terrible lashing of the water, the sharkleaping bodily into the air and vainly snapping his teeth again andagain upon the chain.

  After the fish had become pretty well exhausted, the men drew him onboard the boat, but not without a fierce struggle. Soon he was killed,though not without much unnecessary torture.

  Often Vasco wandered into the market district of the city. Many ofthe vendors of vegetables, fruits, and provisions occupied the narrowsidewalks, displaying their wares in full view of the passers-by.

  At other times Vasco would spend hours under the shady palms inthe great plaza watching the passing to and fro of all classes ofpeople,--some on foot, some in carriages, some mounted on donkeys, andoccasionally a military officer on horseback. When one of the lattercame in sight, Vasco, with scores of other boys, would run a longdistance to keep watch of the fine figure in such an abundance of goldbraid.

  The water-sellers, with their little carts drawn by wobegone-lookingdonkeys, were always an object of interest to Vasco. He felt that itwould be almost as much fun to ride about on a water-cart all day as tobe a soldier.

  Among the buildings within Vasco's vision as he sat in the plaza wasthe Cabildo, or town hall, which is the Independence Hall of Panama,for here was signed the Declaration of Independence from Spain.Naturally the place is an object of much reverence to the natives. Nearby is the Bishop's Palace, an imposing structure where much importantPanama history has been made. At the present time the street floor isoccupied by the great Panama Lottery Company. Let us hope that some daythe people of that country will be delivered from this national shame,and the lottery banished.

  Sunday evenings there was always a band concert in the plaza, and Vasconever failed to be present. Generally he took with him his sisterInez, and sometimes his mother, with little Carlos, would accompanythem. This was always a joyful occasion, for Vasco liked nothing betterthan to hear the music and to watch the continual passing of thepeople.