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Travels and Adventures 



previous day. This hut is called Las Mercedes, and is 

 situated about half-way up the mountain, from which 

 the town of Bucararnanga lies some twenty-five miles 

 on the other side. Before mid-day we reached the top 

 of the mountain. From this elevation the view is even 



more beautiful than before, and the clear, bracing air 

 gives us an idea that the range of hills is at least four 

 thousand feet high. From here as well we began 

 to discern the cultivated land and small villages on the 

 outside of the forest. After about four hours more 

 of a most toilsome march down the side of the 



