CROSSING THE EASTERN ANDES 99 



tied up a few days it grew very tame and was given full 

 liberty about the place. It walked slowly and in dignified 

 fashion, catching flies and pecking at insects on the ground 

 or walls; but if a dog should chance to pass near by it darted 

 at it with outspread wings, making a loud, mmbling sound 

 deep down in its breast; the dog always fled in terror. The 

 bird increased rapidly in size and before long the beautiful 

 metallic-blue throat-feathers appeared. When we emerged 

 from the hammocks in the early mornings it was always 

 there to greet us with low bows, spread wings, and deep 

 murmurings. In travelling, a large-meshed fibre bag served 

 as its container; upon being turned loose when camp was 

 made, it first carefully dried its plumage before the fire, then 

 strutted around a while, and finally flew into the branches of 

 the nearest tree to spend the night. We kept this interest- 

 ing little pet until our departure from Colombia, and then 

 gave it to an acquaintance in Neiva, where it was well 

 cared for. 



A colony of cultivator-ants had taken possession of a 

 patch of young cecropia-trees near the house. They car- 

 ried particles of earth to the branches and formed them 

 into large balls in which the seeds of a succulent plant were 

 sowed and cultivated. The earth was kept loose and mois- 

 tened and the bunch of tender shoots resembled a clump of 

 mistletoe. In this manner an abundant food-supply was 

 assured. 



Florencia was a small village of adobe and bamboo huts, 

 built in anticipation of the opening of Colombian Amazonia, 

 when the new trail across the Andes should be completed. 

 The region is undoubtedly rich in natural resources, and 

 there seemed to be a possibility that the dreams of these 

 pioneer settlers might some day be fulfilled. However, five 

 years later, while aboard the S. S. Vauban, bound for New 

 York, I chanced to meet among the passengers a Colombian 

 with whom I had become acquainted in Florencia. He 

 stated that the climate there had proved so unhealthful 

 that most of the people had died or gone away and the 



