ISTHMUS OF CUPICA. 



251 



rupting the central chain of mountains. Hum- 

 boldt ascertained that not even a ridge of par- 

 tition or any sensible demarcation exists between 

 the bay of Cupica on the coast of the South Sea 

 and the river Naipi (or Naipipi), which empties 

 itself into the Atrato fifteen leagues above the 

 embouchure of the latter river into the Atlantic, 

 In fact^ in the Choco del Norte the moun- 

 tains lower to such a degree that between the 

 gulf of Cupica and the Rio Naipi^ they dis- 

 appear altogether.'' A confirmation of which 

 was made to Humboldt by a merchant of Car- 

 thagena^ deeply interested in the statistics of 

 New Granada^ Don Ignacio Pombo, who wrote 

 to him in the month of February, 1803, as 

 follows : 



I have never ceased to take information 

 respecting the Isthmus of Cupica. There are 

 only from five to six leagues from that port to 

 the embarcardere of Rio Naipi, and the whole 

 territory is a perfect level [tereno enteramente 

 llano). 



The communication I have had with different 

 persons who have collected information upon 



