324 RIO MAGDALENA. 
dug the bed of the Magdalena in the midst of the 
cordilleras of Colombia, to form a canal of commu- 
nication between the mountains and the sea; yet it 
would have made nothing but an unnavigable tor- 
rent, had not its course been stopped in many parts 
by masses of rock disposed in such a manner as to 
break its violence. Its waters thus arrested flow 
gently into the plains of the provinces of Santa . 
Martha and Carthagena, which they fertilize and 
refresh by their evaporation. ‘Three very distinct 
temperatures reign on the Magdalena. The sea- 
breezes blow from its mouth as far as Monpox ; 
from this town to Morales not a breath of air tem- 
pers the heat of the atmosphere, and man would 
become a victim to its power, but for the abundant 
dews which fall during the night ; from Morales as 
far as the sources of the Magdalena, the south wind 
moderates the heat of the day, and forms the third 
temperature. These land-breezes cause the naviga- 
tion of the Magdalena to be rarely fatal to Euro-- 
peans.”* But, according to the same author, multi- 
tudes of animals of various species continually harass — 
the traveller. He cannot bathe on account of the 
caymans, and if he venture on shore he is in dan- 
ger of being bitten by serpents. 
The voyage up this river, which beac thirty-five 
days, was not performed without hazard and incon- 
venience. Humboldt sketched a chart of it, while 
his friend was busily occupied in examining the 
rich and beautiful vegetation of its banks. Disem- 
barking at Honda, they proceeded on mules by dan- 
gerous paths, through forests of oaks, melastome, 
* Mollien’s Travels in Colombia. 
