of an Orchid Hunter. 



49 



of a bed. While dusky porters were noisily stow- 

 ing away bales and portmanteaus, and sharp native 

 gentry were disputing with them about the price, 

 I had time to look over the boat. There are 

 on the river altogether some thirty of these craft, 

 for the most part large and commodious, built, 



A MAGDALENA STEAMBOAT. 



as I would call it, in two storeys, being flat- 

 bottomed, and drawing only about two feet of water. 

 The floor of the lower storey is level with the water ; 

 about half the front part of the boat at this level is 

 taken up by an enormous stack of wood, used for 

 fuel for the engines. In the middle is the space for 

 •cargo, while further on is the driving gear for the 

 large stern paddle-wheel. Above this, on the next 

 floor, is the accommodation for passengers, a few 



E 



