no Travels and Adventures 



away. As a political man he has lately become 

 famous, having been for a short time Governor of the 

 State and then Secretary for Education. He is at 

 present in England acting as Consul for Colombia in 

 the port of Southampton. 



My journey was made in search of the fairy- 

 tribe of Orchids, and as up to the present I had not 

 even seen a single plant of value, I was delighted to 

 learn that the early botanists had found the gorgeous 

 C alt ley a Mendelii growing around here in profusion. 

 Now, however, through the immense exportation of 

 these plants, not a single one is to be found within 

 many days' journey from here on mules. I accord- 

 ingly set about hiring mules for myself and baggage, 

 and again started off in search of the capricious flower. 

 This time the way ran along the valley of La Florida, 

 passing on the way large works in progress for taking 

 water to wash the gold-bearing sand of the vicinity. 

 Nearly the whole of the land along the valley is care- 

 fully cultivated ; the beautiful crops of waving sugar- 

 cane, maize, and tobacco, and the rich pastures stocked 

 with peaceful herds of cattle, give one a feeling of 

 European surroundings. On each side of the valley 

 the mighty peaks of the Andes tower up to the 

 clouds, all bristling with forest. Twelve miles of the 

 most agreeable riding brought us to an old Spanish 

 town called Pie de Cuesta, or in English, " Foot of 



