418 NOVITA. 



when hired by merchants to transport goods; so 

 that sometimes a champana does not appear in 

 the river for three or four months : and, as 

 one had left Citera only a week previously, it 

 was unlikely that another would soon appear. 

 This was entirely contrary to my previous in- 

 formation in Bogota, by persons natives of 

 Chocd. I determined instantly on sending a ^ 

 chasque to Citera for a canoe, that I might be 

 ready on the spot for the next champana; and 

 accordingly requested Senor Hurtado to des- 

 patch the messenger on the following morning, 

 which he promised to do. The expense of 

 this messenger is ten dollars. He goes from 

 Novita to Citera in a small canoe, (which is 

 always in readiness,) in two days and a half ; it 

 there requires one or two days to prepare a 

 large canoe, and three to ascend the river to 

 the Tambo on the Citera side. 



Found myself very unwell during the night, 

 having caught cold from being constantly 

 wet in the canoe. It poured in torrents until 

 morning. 



Feb. 4th. Visited the Juez Politico, a sen- 

 sible man ; then called on Senor Hurtado, and 

 had a very long conversation with him. He 



