360 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photograph by Frank M. Chapman 

 THE CAUCA VAEEEY, SHOWING THE "FARAEEONES," OR SUMMITS OF THE WESTERN 

 ANDES NEAR CALI, FROM THE HACIENDA LA MANUEUTA 



after due consideration, the administrador 

 assured us no custom examination was 

 necessary. 



The train of negroes that by this time 

 had begun to arrive with the first of our 

 thirty-odd trunks, bags, and boxes, was 

 therefore diverted to the warehouse of 

 our local agent, where our equipment was 

 deposited for the night. 



FORTY YEARS TO BUIED A 60-MIEE 

 RAILROAD 



Early the following morning its trans- 

 fer by man-power to the railway station 

 was well under way when a dignified 

 gentleman informed us that the captain 

 of the port had reversed the decision of 

 the administrador and that we must sub- 

 mit to custom-house inspection. As the 

 captain, however, was still sleeping, we 

 assured his representative that we could 

 recognize only the authority of the ad- 

 ministrador. We proceeded, therefore, 

 with the shipment of our effects, and, 

 thanks to this successful combination of 



Yankee push and Colombian courtesy 

 and "manana-ism," we made our exit 

 from Buenaventura. 



Owing mainly to a shortage of funds 

 and an excess of floods, the railway from 

 Buenaventura to Cali, distant in an air 

 line only 60 miles, was under construc- 

 tion for forty years. It follows the 

 Dagua River, for a short distance a broad, 

 smoothly flowing stream, then a dashing 

 torrent fed by dozens of foaming brooks 

 which plunge down the mountain slopes 

 to meet it. 



Only the passage of trains prevents the 

 forest from reclaiming the right of way. 

 Vegetation flourishes with a luxuriance 

 proportioned to the excessive rainfall, 

 which is mainly responsible for it. With 

 ear-piercing squeals and shrieks, the train 

 winds its way through leafy tunnels. 

 There are palms of many species, ce- 

 cropias and bamboos, with ferns, arums 

 and red-beaked heliconias, and a pro- 

 fusion of parasitic plants in endless va- 

 riety. 



