112 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



to a place called Barro Blanco, passing through the villages 

 of Rio Negro and Carmen on the way; but the character of 

 the country did not change appreciably ! One of the prod- 

 ucts of the high, bleak region that immediately attracted 

 our attention was a variety of maize; this thrived even on 

 rocky ground. The ears were large and well-formed, and 

 the huge, even grains were of a milky-white color and of 

 splendid flavor. Large flocks of pigeons came to the corn- 

 fields to feed and furnished splendid shooting; they fly down 

 the mountainsides at terrific speed, and the rushing noises 

 made by the wings can be heard at a great distance. On 

 the edges of the fields grew small trees (Ficus) bearing quan- 

 tities of white berries; birds of many species, including fly- 

 catchers, came to feed on them. 



After completing our work in the Santa Elena region we 

 returned to Medellin. Then we took the train as far as a 

 station called Barbosa, and started overland for the Lower 

 Cauca. We brought both pack and riding mules with us 

 on the train, as it was difficult to obtain them at Barbosa, 

 and when everything had been unloaded at the station, 

 packs were adjusted and the mules started up the exceed- 

 ingly steep ridge to the north. The altitude of Barbosa is 

 four thousand six hundred and twenty-five feet above sea- 

 level, but there was no break in the narrow, rocky trail until 

 we had reached the summit, eight thousand one hundred 

 feet up. A few miles beyond the top lies the village of 

 Don Matias, almost concealed in a deep depression and 

 surrounded by fruit-trees. The trail continues to wind 

 across a rolling, arid country. Boulders of great size are 

 strewn on the ground; they are of a most peculiar forma- 

 tion, consisting of concentric layers of stone, one or two 

 inches thick. 



Water is scarce, and we passed only one stream, and that 

 of small size, called the Rio Porce. 



Seven leagues is considered a good day's travel in Co- 

 lombia, on account of the mountainous nature of the 

 country and poor trails. However, on our first day out 



