346 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



myrtle leaves. The Indians keep it in their mouths all day long, 

 for they say it gives them strength, and when they go without and 

 then take it up again, it takes away their sense of hunger, thirst, 

 and fatigue. In short, it has for the Indians the same virtues as 

 tobacco for tobacco users. 



1045. They gather and work up quantities of very fine henequen 

 fiber, all of which has an excellent market. Every week in Timana 

 they have fairs or markets, to which come all the Indians of the 

 neighborhood and the province, and trade with the Spaniards, who 

 are well off in this city, for it has a delightful healthy climate ; hence 

 they raise in the district many kinds of native and Spanish fruit in 

 abundance. The city is on the other side of the Cordillera, and is 

 well supplied with excellent provisions. People live there largely on 

 account of its equable climate and its healthfulness. 



Chapter XXVI 



Of the City of Los Remedios and Its Rich Mines ; and of Other 

 Cities. 



1046. The city of Los Remedios is 24 leagues from Bogota, in 

 a rough mountainous country. It has a hot climate and its neigh- 

 borhood is unproductive. It was established in the province of the 

 Patangora tribe, 30 leagues from the city of Antioquia. In its moun- 

 tains there are many fierce tigers, which have killed many people, 

 for they are man killers ; and there are many other kinds of animals. () 

 The district of this city has the same kinds of animals, birds, fruit, 

 and fish as that of Caceres. 



1047. The city will have 30 Spanish residents and 15 encomenderos, 

 with a parish church. It has rich mines of gold, both free and in 

 veins ; they have taken out a large amount of gold, but of low grade. 

 Its commerce comes in over the Rio Nare, which empties into the 

 Magdalena, near the port of Honda. Spanish merchandise comes in 

 also by the Rio Nichi and through Zaragoza, being brought in from 

 there overland on muleback. 



1048. From Antioquia and the Aburra Valley are imported cattle 

 and hogs for their sustenance. This city was established and settled, 

 and its Indian allotments made, by Gen. Lope de Salzedo lauregui 

 in the year 1552, among those who helped him in its exploration 

 and conquest. All this country is full of deposits of gold, free and 

 in veins, for this whole country is paved with this metal. 



1049. The city of Ibague is 30 leagues W. of Bogota. It has a 

 hot climate and is rich in gold ore, with abundance of fruit, cattle, 

 and poultry, like the others which have been described. This city 



