304 



JOURNEY. 



round my throat, it being impossible to 

 wear any handkerchief. 



I rose at daylight. At six o'clock the ther- 

 mometer was at 66^ 30^ The capor^l was so 

 dilatory in getting the mules ready, that we 

 did not start until eight o'clock. Having 

 obtained the necessary route, I pushed on 

 briskly before the baggage-mules, and, as 

 I descended, was gratified with an occa- 

 sional peep at the river Bogota, winding 

 amongst the thickly-wooded glens beneath ; 

 now appearing, and then again lost to view 

 by the intervening foliage. On reaching 

 the level, I crossed the river, which here 

 dwindles to a comparative stream, and not 

 more than two or three feet deep at the ford. 

 On reaching the other side, I gained a beau- 

 tifully situated cottage, ov rancha, embosom- 

 ed in the trees, in front of which was a large 

 shed for cattle. I breakfasted at the rancha, 



