Transcriber’s Notes Text printed in italics has been transcribed _between underscores_, bold face text =between equal signs=, and underlined text ~between tildes~. Small capitals have been replaced with ALL CAPITALS. More Notes may be found at the end of this text. [Illustration: PANAMA CANAL AND CANAL ZONE NOTE: From its Atlantic end at Colon, the Canal runs for 10 miles _due south_; then its general course is to the eastward into the Pacific. This is quite contrary to the popular conception of its general direction and is due to the fact that the Isthmus, at the Canal, bends to the eastward, so that the Pacific Ocean at this point is south and east of the Atlantic, as shown by the small insert map at lower left hand corner of the main map above.] PANAMA And the Canal IN PICTURE AND PROSE A complete story of Panama, as well as the history, purpose and promise of its world-famous canal--the most gigantic engineering undertaking since the dawn of time _Approved by leading officials connected with the great enterprise_ By WILLIS J. ABBOT Author of The Story of Our Navy, American Merchant Ships and Sailors, Etc. Water-colors by E. J. READ and GORDON GRANT Profusely illustrated by over 600 unique and attractive photographs taken expressly for this book by our special staff Published in English and Spanish by SYNDICATE PUBLISHING COMPANY LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO HAVANA BUENOS AIRES 1913 Copyright 1913, by F. E. Wright CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 5 CHAPTER I. THE FRONT DOOR TO PANAMA 9 Antilla, a New Sugar Port--The Island of Jamaica--Kingston, The Colonial Capital--Women as Burden Bearers--Characteristics of the Native Jamaican--Life of the Negro Woman. CHAPTER II. CRISTOBAL-COLON; AND THE PANAMA RAILROAD 23 The Approach to Colon--The Architecture and Population of Colon--Railroad Building in a Swamp--The French Come to Colon--The Beautiful Roosevelt Avenue--Colon Streets in the Early Days--The Varied Population of Colon--San Blas Indians and Their Cayucas--The Ghastly Story of the Chinese--Cost and Charges of the Panama Railroad. CHAPTER III. NOMBRE DE DIOS, PORTO BELLO AND SAN LORENZO 45 The Harbor of Porto Bello--The First Appearance of Balboa--Early Indian Life in Panama--The Futile Indian Uprising--The First Sight of the Pacific--The Beginning of Balboa’s Downfall--The Traitor in Balboa’s Camp--The Character of Vasco Nunez de Balboa--Panama a Link in Philippine Trade--Flush Times in Porto Bello--The Piratical Raid of Sir Francis Drake--The Futile Attack on the Treasure Train--The Appearance of Morgan the Buccaneer--The Pillage of Porto Bello. CHAPTER IV. SAN LORENZO AND PANAMA 75