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ahead of us. The route is well buoyed. A little later we enter the front or Gatun Locks, then the artificial Lake the Gatun Locks produced by damming the Chagres River. [[red underline]] Except for tropical trees, the landscape reminds somewhat of the Adirondacks [[/red underline]] and its lakes and islands the submerged part shows here and there by the tops of the dead trees, which still project out of the water. [[in left margin in red]] Panama [[/left margin]] Here and there [[strikethrough]] are [[/strikethrough]] of these submerged trees is making a last fight in sprouting some foliage with a cluster of orchid plants. Ducks and pelicans and other birds appear. The route is sinuous along the artificial islands. A few years have been sufficient for readjustment of the vegetation and all
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along the canal even along the Culebra Cut, grass and shrub, growth has covered the sandy and bare places except here and there. The lighted buoys and light houses or range beacons are abundant so there is [[strikethrough]] almost [[/strikethrough]] no possibility of missing the [[strikethrough]] route [[/strikethrough]] channel. In the locks everything goes [[red underline]] with a mathematical precision [[/red underline]] no hurry, but no loss of time and no possibility for mishap. The ship is entirely in control (in the locks) from those ashore who guide it by three little electric locomotives on each side, one for on aft and one amidships, who hold or pull the ship at the exact distance by means of wire ropes which are shortened or lengthened with easy control by the driver by means of a horizontal ^[[spool]] [[strikethrough]] coil [[/strikethrough]] operated electrically and on which the rope is wound or