110 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



It requires exactly six hours to reach Cisneros, the end 

 of the railroad, from Puerto Berrio. The altitude of the 

 ■terminus is three thousand seven hundred feet above sea- 

 level, and as one approaches it the heavy forest gradually 

 disappears, to be replaced with a lower growth of brush 

 and bushes; finally the hilltops are barren. 



At Cisneros one may secure riding-animals, a carriage, or 

 a motor-car, according to the mode of travel preferred, for 

 the short ride across the ridge to Botero, from whence the 

 journey may again be resumed by train. The road is 

 splendid, and as the highest point, called La Quiebra, is 

 only five thousand four hundred and twenty-five feet up, 

 a canter on a spirited horse across the divide is most enjoy- 

 able. 



Botero is very similar to Cisneros. There are two small 

 hotels where the traveller may rest in comfort until the 

 train leaves for Medellin, which is at 4.30 p. m. 



Numerous villages are scattered along the railroad, which 

 follows closely the course of the Medellin River. The 

 country is green and apparently fertile. Thickets of wild 

 cane grow near the stream, and the Valley is dotted with 

 clumps of tall, slender willows; so dense is the latter growth 

 in some parts of the region that it forms groves and woods. 



Two and a haK hours after leaving Botero the train 

 arrived at Medellin. MedeUin is the third largest city of 

 Colombia, and boasts of a population of seventy thousand. 

 The city is not modem but very picturesque, and Ues in a 

 depression almost completely surrounded by mountains. 

 We were fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of 

 the American consul, Mr. H. B. Meyerheim, who rendered 

 the expedition invaluable service during our entire stay in 

 Antioquia. 



The people of the state differ from the Colombians liv- 

 ing in other parts of the coimtry in that they possess more 

 initiative and business ability; and for this reason they are 

 frequently referred to as the Jews of Colombia. Some 

 authorities go so far as to assert that they are really de- 



