of an Orchid Hunter. 45 



no doubt, soon place it on a level with more 

 advanced cities. Rumours are constantly heard of 

 the unhealthy state of the town : they are gener- 

 ally founded upon the idea that because the climate 

 is hot it must be unhealthy. In the various years 

 I have known Barranquilla I have never seen a 

 case of infectious disease originate here. Most of 



O 



these cases are brought from alone the coast or 

 from other parts of the valley of the Magdalena. 

 The well-to-do families here arc not only cultured 

 and educated, but very often display much personal 

 attractions. Some of the ladies are represented in 

 the adjoining photograph dressed for their annual 

 festival, called the Carnival. The common people 

 are of a light copper colour, seemingly half negro 

 and half Indian, but with very little to recommend 

 them either in form or intelligence. 



One of the greatest difficulties a foreigner finds on 

 arriving here is the system of small bank-notes and 

 other kinds of money in circulation. Native gold 

 coins have almost disappeared, and since the last 

 revolution few, if any, have been coined in Colombia, 

 most of the large business transactions with foreign 

 countries being made by bills of exchange. If an 

 Englishman or North American arrives with a few 

 sovereigns or twenty-dollar pieces, his best plan, taking 

 into consideration the rate of premium above the price 



