48 Travels and Adventures 



CHAPTER V. 



A RIVER STEAMBOAT WASHERWOMEN PASSENGERS 



THE FOOD — BEDROOM A NATIVE VILLAGE — CANOES 



ALLIGATORS — PUERTO WILCHES THE IGUANA 



NATIVE GUIDES. 



The boat was advertised to leave at half-past seven 

 a.m., and approaching that time the way to the wharf 

 was all astir with clumsy vehicles ploughing- their way, 

 almost up to their axles in sand, bearing passengers 

 and baggage. I remarked that whatever luggage 

 the passenger possessed besides, everyone seemed 

 to be provided with a large roll of muslin, a large 

 bottle, and a piece of peculiar-coloured matting. 

 The muslin was for mosquito-curtains ; the bottle 

 contained at least half a gallon of rum to kill the 

 microbes and counteract the bad effects arising from 

 the water of the Magdalena, besides satisfying a 

 secret propensity which many Colombians possess 

 for Tragos — a Spanish word which might be 

 easily interpreted as " a drop o' the cratur." The 

 piece of matting was destined to supply the place 



