CHAPTER IV. 



THE MAGDALENA RIVER. 



Thursday, June 23, 1892. We were busy packing- in the early 

 morning, as our boat was to leave at eleven, and at the last moment 

 we were so hurried that we did not have time for breakfast, but 

 snatched a few hasty mouthfuls and left. When we reached the 

 Enrique, we regretted not having taken more time for our break- 

 fast, for it was three o'clock when we finally moved off. Tt was 

 very provoking- to have to sit around and wait, but we could not 

 help it, nor did any one seem to know for what we were waiting. 

 Just as we were moving- off we heard a great outcry, and, looking 

 back, saw a passenger calling for us to come back for him ; so we 

 ran in to the shore, and he came aboard. Just imagine, in the 

 United States, any one going at three o'clock to catch a steamer 

 advertised to sail at eleven ! 



Whilst waiting at the wharf I noticed on shore great piles of 

 what I thought were potatoes, but upon examination I found them 

 to be vegetable-ivory nuts. 



A great many kites, like those that we had seen the day before, 

 flcAV about the steamer, and I saw them from time to time dip down 

 gracefully and pick up some floating object from the water. 



Tlie Enrique, of which we give an illustration, w\as built by a 

 Pittsburgh firm, and, like the Ohio River steamers, is a stern- 

 wheeler, burning wood, of two to three feet draught, but high above 

 water. On the lower deck forward are the boilers with wood stacked 

 on either side ; then comes the space for crew, freight, and live cattle 

 for beef on the trip ; then the engines. Forward, on the deck above, 



