Visit to the Salt Worlds of Zipaquera. 93 



and sixty thousand arrobas of calcined salt, and derived a nett reve- 

 nue of about §'250,000 from its sales. 



There are two establishments under the direction of the same 

 Company. I was informed that all the salt springs in New Granada 

 lie nearly within two straight lines, forming an obtuse angle with 

 each other at a point where one extremity of each strikes a range of 

 the Andes, beginning near Popayou and terminating at Chita, near 

 the plains of Casinare, a distance of more than three hundred miles. 

 Some salt springs are found at a great elevation in the Andes, and 

 others in the valley of the Cauca. 



The salt springs at Zipaquera are all cold ; those at Chita, a dis- 

 tance of five days' journey, or about forty leagues, are almost all 

 boiling hot. The cold springs are found strongest with salt ; but 

 Chita is more exposed to rains, (the rainy season continues seven 

 months,) these are said to dilute the springs, and thus reduce the 

 average strength of the waters. On our way to Zipaquera we pass- 

 ed a great number of Indians — men, women, and children, bearing 

 upon their backs long bundles of poles, or faggots, which are sus- 

 tained in that position by a bandage passed over the forehead. They 

 bring their wood a considerable distance to the salt works for a price 

 varying from three quartillos, or nine cents, to one real, or twelve 

 cents, each bundle. Although coal could be advantageously used to 

 a greater extent, it is thought judicious to encourage the industry of 

 the people in their own way, for It can with difficulty be drawn into 

 other channels than those they have been long accustomed to. 



Upon one occasion there was a great demand by the company, 

 who wished to extend their operations, for the earthen ware pots in 

 which the salt is calcined : these are made altogether by the Indians. 

 The gentleman who had charge of the works, in order to effect the 

 supply, as he thought, offered double the usual price for these ne- 

 cessary articles ; still there was a great deficiency. In this dilemma 

 he applied to the priest of the parish to aid him with advice, and to 

 know what plan he should pursue to obtain the required number of 

 pots for the work. The padre, having heard the fact of the pay- 

 ment of an increased price for the pots, shook his head, and ob- 

 served, that since the people received so much more money than 

 formerly for their labors, they occupied their time in spending it, in- 

 stead of making more pots. He advised that the price, which was 

 originally three medias (18| cts.) for each pot, and had lately been 

 Uicreased to three reals, (37^^ cents.) should be lowered to three 



