THE MAGDALENA EIVEIi. 



55 



pious and insects tliat might be in the wood. This loading was a 

 tedious process. 



We also stopped a few times each day at little mnd and thatch 

 villages to take on or put off freight. The stops are of intermin- 

 able length ; no one seems in any hurry ; after the freight is off 

 or on they must have an hour's chat before starting, and when the 

 signal sounds to start, the crew and passengers have gone off to 



%J .^ 



STOP AT BANCO. 



make purchases or to trade, and must be waited for, so we really 

 spend as much time in waiting as in traveling. We ran all night; 

 but higher np the river, on account of snags and sand-bars, we had 

 to tie up at night. It was fearfully hot, especially in the early part 

 of the night, when it was almost unbearable in the little staterooms. 



