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The National Geographic Magazine 



equipment, novelties of all kinds, shoes, 

 matches, arms, sporting goods, hardware, 

 dyes and chemicals, toilet articles, some 

 lines of cotton cloth and clothing, paper 

 and printing supplies, etc. ; but, excepting 

 the first of these items, the greatest quan- 

 tities are supplied by Europe. Imports 

 from the United States in 1905 amounted 

 in value only to $3,700,000, although the 

 grand total of foreign imports amounted 

 approximately from $12,000,000 to $15,- 

 000,000. 



FIELD FOR SPORTSMEN AND SCIENTISTS 



The true American who loves sports- 

 manship and hunting for the exercise and 

 rest, or the professional explorer and 

 hunter who seeks new fields and prey, 

 will find in Colombia unrivaled oppor- 

 tunities for pleasure or adventure. In 

 the tropical and semi-tropical forests 

 roam the jaguar, puma, bear, amarillo, 

 tapir, peccary, sloth, deer, opossum, and 

 cary. In the trees can be seen monkeys 

 and a multitude of bird species, like con- 

 dors, parrots., cockatoos, toucans, bush 

 turkeys, or grouse, and humming birds. 

 In the rivers are legions of alligators and 

 iguanas, while along the coast there are 

 numerous turtles. Cranes and storks fly 

 over the damp lowlands and boa- 

 constrictors crawl through the rank veg- 

 etation. In the higher and colder coun- 

 try are deer, foxes, mountain lions, and 

 tigers, and along the lagoons and among 

 the fields duck, snipe, and pigeons. 



The geologist, mineralogist, botanist, 

 forester, and average scientist, moreover, 

 can always find abundant lines of study 

 and investigation respectively in the geo- 

 logical formation, mineral deposits, flora 

 and tree growth, and general physical 

 characteristics of Colombia. In this con- 

 nection it must be remembered that the 

 great Humboldt found this part of South 

 America the most interesting of his trav- 

 els. The National Museum in Bogota 

 contains rare specimens of fauna, flora, 

 mineral and geological development 

 which interest both the layman and the 

 specialist. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 



Before this discussion is at a close 

 there are a few different points to which 

 reference should be made. First, I de- 

 sire to speak feelingly and in the highest 

 terms of the President of Colombia, Gen- 

 eral Rafael Reyes. He undoubtedly 

 stands out today as one of the foremost 

 statesmen in all Latin America. Against 

 heavy odds he is struggling bravely and 

 manfully to evolve Colombia into a con- 

 dition of permanent peace and prosperity. 

 The terrible heritage that Colombia re- 

 ceived from its last civil war, by which 

 her land was reduced to a condition 

 almost of poverty and more than one 

 hundred thousand able-bodied heads of 

 families were lost in battle, is a heavy 

 handicap ; but, if he keeps his health and 

 is backed up by his people, he will be sure 

 to place Colombia in the front rank of 

 Latin America. Many criticisms are con- 

 tinually hurled at him by those who are 

 not familiar with his high policies and 

 with the obstacles that are in his path, 

 but all those who have the best interests 

 of Colombia at heart repose confidence in 

 General Reyes' sincerity, ability, and 

 patriotism. 



Another point to bear in mind in con- 

 nection with Colombia is the establish- 

 ment of the Pan-American Railway con- 

 nections. The great need of Colombia is 

 railroads. It is interesting to note that 

 many railroads are now in course of con- 

 struction, and when these are completed 

 they will do much for the progress of the 

 country. One of the most important 

 lines of approach from the coast to the 

 interior is that from Buenaventura, on the 

 Pacific coast, by the way of Cali and the 

 Cauca Valley, and then on to the Medel- 

 lin, the prosperous capital of Antioquia, 

 which is being built by two Americans, 

 Messrs Alfred Bishop and Edward 

 Mason. 



Finally, for the benefit of those who 

 wish to study carefully the Republic of 

 Colombia and form a broader idea of the 

 country than this cursory talk has given 

 them, I desire to call their attention to the 



