198 Account of a Torrent of Mud in the 



basis on which have been formed the superior draught-horses 

 of the country, consists of the larger breeds of the plains, 

 distinguished by their size from the smaller varieties of the 

 higher countries, commons and forests. These horses are 

 merely a larger variety of the pack-horse. They have stout 

 limbs, with long hair at the fetlock and on the legs. They 

 are of all colours, with abundant hair, and long bushy manes. 

 They are slow and unapt for rapid motion, but capable of 

 exerting great physical force in the drawing of loads, or 

 bearing of burdens. 



From these native horses, all influenced, with respect to 

 size and form, by the nature of the districts in which they 

 have been reproduced, are derived, by amalgamation with 

 one another, and then by the mixture of foreign blood, the 

 endless varieties which are now multiplied throughout the 

 country. Some of these varieties possess such a community 

 of characters, arising from common descent, or long inter- 

 mixture with one another, that they may be regarded as 

 families or breeds. But many more cannot be classified in 

 this manner, and therefore it has become common to arrange 

 the different kinds, not into breeds founded on common re- 

 semblance, but into classes founded on the uses to which 

 they are applied. Under this kind of arrangement, our 

 horses may be divided into two general classes ; first, those 

 employed for the saddle and the lighter wheel-carriages, and, 

 secondly, those employed in the heavier labours, and which 

 are commonly called draught and cart horses. In the first 

 class are the race-horse, the hunter, the coach-horse, and 

 all the varieties used for the saddle : in the second class are 

 the cart-horse, the waggon-horse, the dray-horse, and others. 



Account of a Torrent of Mud in the Plain of the Lagunilla^ 

 ^New Granda. 



The following account of a remarkable torrent of mud is extracted 

 from a newspaper lately received from Colombia. The facts are at- 

 tested officially by the local authorities. The first extract is a sim- 

 ple translation of an account dated " Tasajeras, Friday. February 

 21, 1845," and signed - 11. J. Treffery." 



'' On Wednesday, the 19th inst., a little before 7 a. m., there was 



