OP an Orchid Hunter, 75 



noon, but the guides said that we should find another 

 hut at about twelve miles' distance. Towards evening 

 we came in sight of the Andes, having nearly crossed 

 one-half of the magnificent vallev of the Magdalena: 

 Before sunset we had reached the hut, which was 

 situated about half a mile up the side of the mountain 

 on a slight level, a situation which commands one 

 of the grandest sights it is possible to see. On 

 the right the magnificent forest-plain stretches out 

 towards the sea for two hundred miles, and on the 

 other hand as much. The river Magdalena is 

 navigable for large steamboats about nine hundred 

 miles, and from this point of the Andes on a clear 

 day there is at least five hundred miles of the valley 

 visible, while directly in front may be seen the mighty 

 range of mountains of Antioquia and Bolivar at a 

 distance of a hundred miles more. The river may 

 be seen from this point like a gilded serpent 

 gliding away down towards the sea, its silvery 

 coils contrasted beautifully with the sombre green of 

 the forest. 



This evening we were more fortunate than the 

 night before. Here we met with a party of Colom- 

 bians engaged in taking out gutta-percha, and they 

 offered us every hospitality which their scanty 

 resources afforded. We started away next morning 

 more refreshed and in better spirits than on the 



