EXPERIENCES IN COLOMBIA 



247 



preparations, and as I was the only one who knew how to ask for three 

 tickets in Spanish, I was elected treasurer, and full of confidence 

 approached the ticket office with the demand, "Tres boleto Barranquilla." 



After much conversation and considerable sign language, I dis- 

 covered that single fare was eighty-eight dollars, round trip being 

 seventy-four dollars ; so I bought round trips, thus saving forty-two 

 dollars. The price seemed a little high, but it gave us an added respect 

 for a corporation that could secure such prices. 



Taking our places in the passenger coach which was about fifteen 

 feet long, with exceedingly narrow sides, we were bestowed as com- 

 fortably as might be. We three were the only Americanos, and the 

 Colombians, particularly those with the store teeth, which seemed to be 

 quite a fad, smiled at us benignly. We were unable to sit together, and 



: 



MOUTH OF THE SINU RIVER. 



to one fell the luck of being seated by the side of an exceedingly dark 

 complexioned lady with much adipose tissue, who shook with the motion 

 of the train so that we feared her calico swathings would give way 

 and she would run all over the floor; while between her and our com- 

 panion sat a perfectly naked boy about six years old. I have forgotten 

 how the rest of us were bestowed, I was so interested in watching the 

 disgusted look on the face of the crowded one. 



When the train was loaded and everything ready, we had the usual 

 South American wait of about half an hour, and then finally, after much 

 protesting on the part of the fussy little engine, the train dragged 

 slowly along the wharf, around by the station, and following the shore 

 took its way through most uninteresting country until we reached 



