IBAGUE. 341 



tage, and enquiring the distance to Ibague, 

 I found it to be yet six leagues, which de- 

 termined me on stopping for the night, as 

 our horses were so fatigued as scarcely to be 

 able to move. I dismounted, hung my ham- 

 mock in the cottage, and gave the old man 

 who lived there some money to procure my 

 supper, which he ordered his daughter to 

 prepare. In the mean time I produced some 

 aguadiente, a glass of which I gave mine 

 host : this opened his heart, and I overheard 

 him giving a private order, that the best 

 supper they could procure was to be served 

 up. Accordingly, I had shortly after fried 

 salt-beef and plantains, eggs and fat pork, 

 cooked in the same manner, to which cho- 

 colate was added ; these appeased the crav- 

 ings of nature, and shortly afterwards I fell 

 soundly asleep in my hammock. 



Dec. 26th. Started with my guide at 

 half-^past four, by moonlight, and reached 



