For generations there has been a good deal of commerce in light-draft schooners along the northern coast of the San Blas country. The San Blas Indian himself, like all the other Carib tribes, is a natural-born sailor. You see him miles from shore in his frail dugout, in the roughest sort of weather. It has been his custom for generations to ship aboard sailing-vessels visiting his country, occasionally for very long voyages, as far even as London or New York, so that when you meet him, he is very likely to speak English, and on occasions of state, wear European clothes. In the ten years that we have been at work on the Isthmus the San Blas Indians have acquired considerable confidence in us, and have become quite friendly. They come to the hospitals very freely for treatment and surgical operations, and the men can now be seen almost any day in Colon trading. Whenever they come up to Colon, they wear European clothing. This is of every variety and style, but the hat is always the same, a derby! The present government of the Republic of Panama has induced the old Chief to recognize formally the authority of the Republic. This has not been brought about by force, but principally by freeing the trade with the Indians of all duties, and by flattering the old Chief. As an official of the Panaman Government, the Chief is authorized to wear a most splendid gold-laced uniform coat, furnished by the Panaman Government. This will not, however, always retain the allegiance of the old man. Not very long ago the Panaman Government established a small police station at the extreme end of the northern coast of the Republic. The President of the Republic took occasion to inspect this post, and went down on the only war vessel the Republic possessed, a twenty-ton steam launch. As they passed the island in San Blas Bay on which was located the principal town of the Indians, the old Chief ran up the Colombian flag, and notified the President that he had changed his allegiance from Panama to Colombia. As the old fellow controlled a full quarter of the territory of Panama, this meant a good deal to the Republic, but the President very wisely made no attempt at force. He granted the few unimportant requests of the Indians; increased the old Chief in his rank; gave him a new coat with more lace than the former, and the flag of Panama now floats serenely where the Colombian flag then floated. While the Indians recognize the overlordship of the Republic of Panama, I doubt if the President, or any other white official, would be allowed to spend a night in the San Blas country, nor would they during our whole stay on the Isthmus allow any official of the Canal Commission to spend a night in this domain.