CHAPTER ly. 



THE MAGDALENA RIVER. 



Thursday, June 23, 1892. We were busy packing in the early 

 morning, as our boat was to leave at eleven, and at the last moment 

 we were so hurried that we did not have time for breakfast, but 

 snatched a few hasty mouthfuls and left. When we reached the 

 Enrique, we regretted not having taken more time for our break- 

 fast, for it was three o'clock when we finally moved off. It was 

 very provoking to have to sit around and wait, but we could not 

 help it, nor did any one seem to know for what we were waiting. 

 Just as we were moving off we heard a great outcry, and, looking 

 back, saw a passenger calling for us to come back for him ; so we 

 ran in to the shore, and he came aboard. Just imagine, in the 

 United States, any one going at three o'clock to catch a steamer 

 advertised to sail at eleven ! 



Whilst waiting at the wharf I noticed on shore great piles of 

 what I thought were potatoes, but upon examination I found them 

 to be vegetable-ivory nuts. 



A great many kites, like those that we had seen the day before, 

 flew about the steamer, and I saw them from time to time dip down 

 gracefully and pick up some floating object from the water. 



The Enrique, of which we give an illustration, was built by a 

 Pittsburgh firm, and, like the Ohio River steamers, is a stern- 

 wheeler, burning wood, of two to three feet draught, but high above 

 water. On the lower deck forward are the boilers with wood stacked 

 on either side ; then comes the space for crew, freight, and live cattle 

 for beef on the trip ; then the engines. Forward, on the deck above, 



