A Collecting Trip to Colombia 21 



COST OP trip 



Our expenses were about $650 each, but, as this inckided a number of 

 unnecessary purchases, $600 may be considered a fair estimate of the cost. 

 The round trip fare from New York or New Orleans to Santa Marta on 

 the United Fruit Company steamers, inchiding meals, was $180. Hotel 

 rates at Santa Marta and Barranquilla were $2 a day ; at El Banco the 

 rate was $1.20 a day. The first class charge from Cienaga to Barranquilla 

 was $3.50, with stateroom $1 extra. The round trip first class fare from 

 Barranquilla to La Dorado without stateroom was $30 on one line of steam- 

 ers and $60 on another line. On the first line the stateroom adds about 

 forty per cent to the cost ; on the second line about twenty per cent — that 

 is, stateroom charges are about the same on both lines. We had state- 

 rooms from Barranquilla to El Banco, but at no time thereafter, as we 

 really preferred sleeping on deck and the shower bath rooms sufficed for 

 shaving and changing clothing. Sleeping on deck, however, requires retir- 

 mg at a certain hour, when all the cots are brought out and distributed over 

 the deck, and arising at a certain hour in order that the deck may be cleared 

 for the day. Travelling on the river with frequent stopovers adds very lit- 

 tle if any to the fare, as this is equitably figured on the basis of leagues 

 between points. Mozos such as we employed for carrying our collecting out- 

 fits and lunches charged from sixty cents to one dollar a day. Carriages 

 in cities for ourselves and several pieces of baggage cost us usually about $1 

 a trip. 



NOTLS ON KOUIPMENT AND COLLECTING -METHODS 



Extra Bquipnicnt. — At the hotels at Barranquilla one can arrange for 

 the purchase of a mosquito net, a light blanket and a pillow for use on the 

 river boats. We carried these necessary articles in an old burlap sack. Mr. 

 Carriker recommended folding cots, but we were not able to purchase these 

 in Barranquilla and were able to obtain only one cot at Cristalina. As a 

 consequence during our stay there, J. W. slept on a narrow bench up- 

 holstered with old shirts and miscellaneous clothing. On the river steamers 

 cots are furnished. 



Medicines. — We made it a practice to take four grains of quinine a day 

 in four doses. J- W. had no fever and I had only one light attack which put 

 me in bed one day at Rio Frio, and from which I recovered after increasing 

 the quinine for a few days to about fifteen grains a day. Amoebic dysentery 

 was common along the river, and I had an attack at Maraquita, contracted 

 probably at El Banco. No physics were taken but paregoric in frequent doses 

 and alcresta ipecac were used from the start. Paregoric was discontinued 

 when it was no longer needed, and ipecac, equivalent to 400 grains, was 

 taken sixty grains a day. Recovery was rapid and I was incapacitated for 

 field work only two or three days. For red bugs (harvest mites) we used 

 the liquid known as cresol compound. This is known also by a great many 

 trade names, and is sold everywhere as a disinfectant and for a dip or wash 

 for live stock. It makes a milky mixture with water. We used it about 



