Canal Zone, Panama by C. E. Peckover

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 14, 1905

Canal Zone, Panama

By C. E. Peckover

When I last reported, we had just moved from Bocas del Toro to Colon, where we expected to make our home while in this field, and where we enjoyed very good health. Since coming here we have been experiencing some of the unpleasantness of the tropical fever. Part of the time the whole family are down at once, and have to depend upon the neighbors for care. Fortunately, some of the good sisters do not make bad nurses, needing only a little experience added to their willingness. We are just now in the midst of the malarial season; and when it is past, we hope to be able to do more work in this needy field.

There is so much to be done, and so few laborers, that we scarcely know where to begin. The population here is largely a moving one, except the native Spaniards and a few Jamaicans, who have lived in the country since the French canal time, and have become permanently located. The majority are people who have been drawn here through the opening of work again on the canal. Some are natural rovers.

Among the English-speaking people we find a good sale for our books and papers. Last week I visited one of our workers, a young native, who is laboring at Empire, close to the Pacific side. Here I found a good work being done. One young man is rejoicing in the truth, through the efforts of this native laborer, and others are interested, and seeking after the truth. From there I went to Panama City, the Pacific terminal of the Panama Railway. Here is a crowded city of several thousand people, mostly Spaniards. In this place we need a worker who can speak Spanish as well as English; also Spanish literature.

Panama is an old-fashioned Spanish Catholic town. As one walks through the streets, on the various corners he comes in sight of altars, with their little crosses and banners and lighted taper, each altar in honor of some departed saint. As I witness these relics of superstition and error, my heart yearns to see the banner of the third angel erected in this stronghold of the enemy.

Formerly Panama was a very unhealthful place. But since the Americans have taken control of the sanitation of the isthmus, the city has been much improved and cleaned, so that now it is in a fair condition. Much is being done to make the canal zone a healthful place; but as long as it continues to rain, and swamps remain, the fever will also remain. Just now it is raging everywhere, and nearly every house has one or two sick persons. In the midst of the sickness we are doing what we can to advance the truth among this people, and are making some progress. Just before my second run of fever, I baptized three, among these a lady eighty-two years of age, and unable to walk. Others are awaiting the rite. While there are difficulties, we are privileged to see encouragement, for which we are thankful.

C. E. PECKOVER.