CHAPTER IX 



ASCENT OF THE PARAMILLO COLLECTING ON THE 

 RIO SUCIO 



THE return to Medellin from Puerto Valdivia occupied 

 five days. We again went to our former headquarters, the 

 " Gran Hotel," and spent a few busy days packing the large 

 collections brought from the Lower Cauca. Then we began 

 to gather provisions and cargo mules for a second expedition. 



Upon leaving Medellin we started northwestward, hav- 

 ing in view an ascent of the Paramillo, a lofty spur of the 

 Andes, jutting out of the Western Range slightly below 

 latitude 7 south. This region, so far as I am able to dis- 

 cover, had never been explored. 



At first the trail is wide and very good, so that within 

 four hours after starting we reached the summit of the 

 first ridge, eight thousand seven hundred and fifty feet up. 

 A great cleft in the bare, rocky peaks forms a natural pass 

 and saves a climb of at least an additional thousand feet. 

 The slope on the other (western) side is more gentle. 



We were immediately impressed with the barren nature 

 of the country, for, with the exception of a few patches of 

 low brush, and clumps of withered grass, there was no 

 vegetation. An occasional glimpse of the Cauca River, 

 far below, presented the picture of a broad yellow ribbon 

 lying upon a brown, rocky plain. 



That night we reached San Geronimo, a small town well 

 down in the valley. Limited plots of ground are irrigated 

 in the vicinity of the settlement, where rice, corn, and pas- 

 turage are cultivated by the inhabitants. Yellow-rumped 

 tanagers, anis, and finches (Sycalis) make this little oasis 

 their home, and add greatly to its attractiveness. 



Next morning we were in the saddle before six o'clock. 



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