63 



eastern chain, either by the Mesa and Tocayma, 

 or the natural bridges of Icononzo, traverse the 

 valley of the river Magdalena, and cross the 

 central chain. The most frequented passage is 

 that of the Paramo de Guanacas, described by 

 Bouguer, on his return from Quito to Cartha- 

 gena. Pursuing this road the traveller crosses 

 the ridge of the central Cordilleras in a single 

 day, and. amidst an inhabited country. We 

 preferred the passage of the mountain of Quindiu, 

 or Quindio, between the cities of Ibague and 

 tarthago, the entrance of which passage is re- 

 presented in the fifth plate % These geogra- 

 phical explanations seemed necessary to give a 

 clear idea of the position of a place, which is 

 not to be found in the most accurate charts of 

 South America, even in that of La Cruz. 



The mountain of Quindiu, (lat. 4° 36', long. 

 5 h 12') is considered as the most difficult pas- 

 sage in the Cordilleras of the Andes. It is a 

 thick uninhabited forest, which in the finest 

 season cannot be traversed in less than ten or 

 twelve days. Not even a hut is to be seen, nor 

 can any means of subsistence be found. Tra- 

 vellers at all times of the year furnish themselves 

 with a month's provision, since it often happens, 

 that by the melting of the snows, and the sudden 



* See Plate V, folio edition. 



