CHAP. XIII. MARIQIHTA. 245 



was that between Bogota and the mining district in 

 the neighbourhood of Mariquita. As he ascended the 

 slopes of the mountain-range, and reached the first step 

 of the table-land, he was struck beyond expression with 

 the noble view of the valley of the Magdalena behind 

 him, so vast that he failed in attempting to define the 

 point at which the course of the river blended with the 

 horizon. Like all travellers in the district, he noted 

 the remarkable changes of climate and vegetation, as he 

 rose from the burning plains towards the fresh breath 

 of the mountains. From an atmosphere as hot as that 

 of an oven he passed into delicious cool air ; until, in 

 his onward and upward journey, a still more temperate 

 region was reached, the very perfection of climate. 

 Before him rose the majestic Cordilleras, forming a 

 rampart against the western skies, and at certain times 

 of the day looking positively black, sharp, and even at 

 their summit, like a wall. 



Our engineer took up his abode for a time at Mari- 

 quita, a fine old city, though then greatly fallen into de- 

 cay. During the period of the Spanish dominion, it was 

 an important place, most of the gold and silver convoys 

 passing through it on their way to Cartagena, there to 

 be shipped in galleons for Europe. The mountainous 

 country to the west was rich in silver, gold, and other 

 metals, and it was Mr. Stephenson's object to select the 

 best site for commencing operations for the Company. 

 With this object he " prospected " about in all direc- 

 tions, visiting long-abandoned mines, and analyzing 

 specimens obtained from many quarters. The mines 

 eventually fixed upon as the scene of his operations were 

 those of La Maiita and Santa Anna, long before worked 

 by the Spaniards, though, in consequence of the luxu- 

 riance and rapidity of the vegetation, all traces of the 

 old workings had become completely overgrown and 

 lost. Everything had to be begun anew. Roads had 

 to be cut to open a way to the mines, machinery had to 



