ioo Travels and Adventures 



CHAPTER VIII. 



SHOOTING THE RAPIDS A FISH RACE — PORT BOTIJAS 



BUCARAMANGA — PIE DE CUESTA — THE HOME OF 



CATTLE Y A MENDELII TAKING THE CONDOR 



RIVER SUBI— HUMMING-BIRDS. 



Next day we came to some rapids, which extended a 

 considerable distance, where the water rushed down a 

 declivity with terrific velocity. Here the natives were 

 obliged to bring the canoe to the bank on the shallowest 

 side, and, all jumping into the water, literally lifted the 

 boat up through the foaming torrent, wading up to the 

 neck in the water and making a great noise, shouting 

 to each other in their bad Spanish by way of encourage- 

 ment. When we had got clear of the rapids we 

 stopped to rest, and while we were there three canoes, 

 laden with coffee, came down the river and joined us. 

 I was curious to see how they would shoot the rapids 

 — a mile of rushing, foaming torrent, intersected at 

 intervals by enormous trunks of trees, which, at some 

 time or other, had been brought down the stream, and 

 were now firmly embedded in the banks. These 



