i(M: 



ricrwagdalena. 



277 



the mountains and the sea ; yet it would have made ciIAP.xxin 

 nothing but an unnavigable torrent, had not its course ^ — 

 been stopped in many parts by masses of rock disposed ttmperatUro 

 in such a manner as to break its violence. Its waters 

 thus arrested flow gently into the plains of the provinces 

 of Santa Martha and Carthagena, Avhich they fertilize 

 ' and refresh by their evaporation. Three very distinct 

 temperatures reign on the Magdalena. The sea-breezes 

 blow from its mouth as far as Monpox ; from this town 

 to Morales not a breath of air tempers the heat of the 

 atmosphere, and man would become a victim to its 

 power but for the abundant dews which fall during the 

 night ; from Morales as far as the sources of the Mag- 

 dalena, the south wind moderates the heat of the day, 

 and forms the third temperature. These land-breezes 

 cause the navigation of the Magdalena to be rarely fatal 

 to Europeans."* But, according to the same author, 

 multitudes of animals of various species continually 

 harass the traveller. He cannot bathe on account of the 

 caymans, and if he venture on shore he is in danger of 

 being bitten by serpents. 



The voyage up this river, which lasted iifty-five days, 

 was not performed without hazai-d and inconvenience. 

 Humboldt sketched a chart of it, while his fiiend was 

 busily occupied in examining the rich and beautiful 

 vegetation of its banks. Disembarking at Honda, they 

 proceeded on mules by dangerous paths, through forests 

 of oaks, melastomoe, and cinchonse, to Santa Fe de 

 Bogota, the capital of New Grenada. This city stands Bogota. 

 in a beautiful valley surrounded by lofty mountains, and 

 which would appear to have been at a former period the 

 bed of a great lake. Here the travellers spent several 

 months in exploring the mineralogical and botanical 

 treasures of the country, the magnilicent cataract of Te 

 quendama, and the extensive collections of the celebrated 

 Mutis. 



The elevated plain on which this metropolis is built 



ilazardoiis 

 voyages. 



Santa Fe dt 



* IMoUiep's Travels in Colombia. 



