GUADUAS. 183 



it had worn itself a basin in the stone. Here 

 we regaled ourselves with its cool refresh- 

 ing water, qualified however with some ex- 

 cellent French brandy, which we had not 

 neglected to take with us. At the greatest 

 height we attained, we found an erection of 

 mason's work, covered with white plaster, 

 on which were large characters informing us 

 that we had arrived within eighteen leagues 

 of the capital, and at a level of eight hundred 

 and sixty toises above the sea. We now 

 commenced our descent, and found it in 

 many places worse than the ascent, having 

 to dismount and drive the mules forward. 

 Just at sunset we came in sight of the vil- 

 lage of Guaduas, situate on the opposite side 

 of a narrow plain. Hunger, and the hopes 

 of a good supper, quickened our pace, and 

 we arrived an hour after sunset. We im- 

 mediately went to the house of Colonel 

 Acosta, the person who has the whole sup- 

 ply of mules upon the road, with whom Mr, 



