202 



SOUTH AMEEICA— THE ANDES REGIONS. 



Magangué is at present the chief station between the inland and the outer deltas, 

 and its fairs are much frequented by the local traders. But Magangué is 

 constantly being threatened with the fate of Mompos, esi^ecially during the 

 periodical flood?. 



Tacaloa, converging point of all these ramifications, never acquired any economic 

 importance, although the vast plain extending westwards to the Gulf of Moros- 

 quillo has contributed not a little to the material prosperity of the republic. On 

 this plain, nearly midway between the river and the gulf, stands the agricultural 

 town of Corozal, and the surrounding savannas afford pasturage for over 500,000 



Fig. 79. — Ramifications of Mompos. 



Scale 1 : 900,000. 



74'40' 



West or Greenwich 



IS Miles. 



head of cattle, enough for the local demand and for a brisk export trade with 

 Panama, Venezuela, and the AVest Indies. 



Carmen, north of Corozal, grows an excellent tobacco, and at ChiiiH (Sinu), 

 south of the same place, near the divide between the San Jorge and Sinu basins, 

 the conquistador Pedro de Ileredia discovered those Indian graves which j-ielded 

 the richest booty ever obtained in the JSTew World. Each of his 150 followers is 

 said to have received as his share plunder to the value of 6,000 ducats, about 

 £2,700. Yet all subsequent efforts have proved vain to re-di?cover the gold-mines 

 whence were obtained these prodigious treasures. 



