384 



CARTA GO. 



the profits. The cacao of the plains of Car- 

 tago is far superior to that of Guayaquil, 

 and is most productive. The sugar-cane is 

 particularly fine, and luxuriant. Tobacco 

 grows for the government only ; but any quan- 

 tity may be produced, the climate being pecu- 

 liarly adapted for it. 



Corn would grow well about Caly, the tem- 

 perature being the same as at Ibague. 



It is much to be regretted that the pro- 

 duce of this fertile valley cannot be export- 

 ed, and the cultivation thus encouraged ; but 

 the want of convenient outlets renders the 

 conveyance so very expensive, as to com- 

 pel the natives to confine their growth to the 

 quantity merely required for their own use. 

 The least expensive route is from Cartago to 

 Buenaventura, in the Pacific, and this is eight 

 dollars per cwt., having to travel by mules, 

 by peons, and by water ; so that I fear it will 

 be long before any produce of the valley will 

 pay for exportation, except the precious 

 metals. The magnificent river Cauca runs 

 through the whole of these plains, but is unfor- 

 tunately only navigable in particular places ; 

 and I fear that the resources of the country 



