134 Travels and Adventures 



a turn in the Plaza de Bolivar on a Sunday morning 

 would think they had never been to Bogota. 

 Although Colombian soldiers do not make much of 

 a show, they are celebrated for their straight shooting 

 and valour. In Bogota there is a considerable 

 garrison, together with all the paraphernalia and 

 accoutrements of a standing army. These are not 

 needed to combat with exterior Powers ; but about 

 every three years they indulge in a revolution or an 

 insurrection against the powers that be, and Colombian 

 kills Colombian, until often very few are left, causing 

 an immense loss of life and property with very little 

 advantage to either party. In times of revolution, 

 however, foreigners who do not mix in the party 

 feeling are not molested in the least, except by the 

 want of communications, and I may say here that 

 for the travelling foreigner there is perhaps no country 

 in the world where he is received with such hospitality 

 and so much friendliness. Both the telephone and 

 electric light have been introduced into Bogota, and a 

 line of railway to connect this city with the Magdalena 

 River has been some time in course of construction ; 

 but, if ever it is possible, it will be years before the 

 end is achieved, on account of the immense chain of the 

 Andes between Bogota and the Magdalena, which will 

 require an outlay of some millions of dollars, coupled 

 with the greatest engineering skill, to break through. 



