186 



VILLIETAS. 



the rearing of horses and mules ; the latter 

 of a very fine breed, and the former, when 

 of the Antioquian breed, being considered 

 the best of the country. 



We made but little progress, the mules 

 we rode having been of late much worked 

 by the government, and our muleteer being 

 a very bad and drunken fellow. We had 

 some difficulty in passing the river Negro, 

 which crossed our way, it being so uncom- 

 monly rapid and swollen, that the feet of 

 our mules scarcely touched its gravelly bed. 

 The banks of this river are formed of jet- 

 black earth ; its water was, however, clear 

 and palatable, although at a short distance, 

 when running, it has the appearance of 

 blackness, whence it takes its name of 

 Negro. We now passed, without visiting it, 

 the town of Villietas : leaving it on our left, 

 we commenced climbing a ridge of moun- 

 tains, from which we had a view of the 



