336 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



completely across. At the village of Arma, the last in the district of 

 Popayan, they build large rafts on it, of 40 or 50 bamboos, v^hich 

 they call guaduas. They fasten these together and build a compart- 

 ment on them, which they call a barbacoa ; here they stow their stuff 

 or merchandise, so that it will stay dry. They navigate these rafts 

 down this river to Antioquia, 40 leagues, in 8 hours' time ; they have 

 never traveled upstream, that being impossible, on account of the 

 rapid current. 



1009. From Antioquia to Caceres there is no river travel, although 

 it is a mighty stream and many others join it ; but it runs confined 

 between lofty sierras and mountains, with a strong current and great 

 falls. It runs in this fashion to the gorge of La Gomera, and the 

 mouth of the Rio del Espiritu Santo, a league and a half from the 

 city of Antioquia and not very far from the Rio Cauca, some 30 

 leagues from Caceres, was founded the city of San Juan de Rodas, 

 which was deserted in the year 1599, for the Guasusees Indians 

 burned it down one night, massacring the Spaniards and carrying 

 off the Spanish women into captivity. 



Chapter XVIII 



Of the City of Caceres and the Rich Gold Mines in Its District. 



1010. The city of Caceres is built at one end of the Loma de Nuaba. 

 From the city down to the Rio Cauca and the port of Valdivia, 

 through which passes all its commerce, it is a very rough and steep 

 descent a league long. The site of the city is likewise very rocky, 

 with plenty of springs on account of the proximity of the rivers, and 

 misty also ; but as it lies on such a high point, it enjoys good pure 

 air, which makes it healthy. The climate is most delightful, and the 

 ground is free from obnoxious creatures. It has beautiful views over 

 the Rio Cauca and other high mountains toward the E., with lovely 

 valleys and meadowland between them. The city was first founded 

 on a level stretch, a quarter of a league from where it is today. 



1011. This city was moved and settled on the site where it has 

 remained, by Gov. Andres de Valdivia, the first to explore and sub- 

 jugate these provinces. He named it Ubeda, in memory of that in 

 Andalusia, his native town. This gentleman was killed by the Indians 

 in the valley of the Rio de San Andres, where he had a stronghold 

 which the savages burned down. Later, Capt. Caspar de Rodas came 

 in to chastise them ; he was a native of Caceres in Estremadura, and 

 called his city Nueva Caceres. From here it is 32 leagues to the 

 city of Antioquia — 14 to the valley and Rio de San Andres, and 18 



I 



