Quindio Mercury Mines, 
In the morning we left early to visit the mine, which is 
situated near the ridge of the Cordillera, on its eastern 
slope, at an altitude of about 3,350 metres above sea- 
level. The mine is located in the centre of an immense 
forest, as the accompanying photograph shows. Here 
occur large deposits of low-grade cinnabar-bearing schists, 
which crop up to the surface ; these schists are being 
crushed and concentrated by a modern mill and mercury 
obtained from these concentrates by retorts. This pro- 
perty is being operated by an English company. 
The upper zone in which this mine is situated is almost 
entirely composed of ensenillo trees, which, as I have 
before mentioned afford valuable tanning bark ; the wood, 
however, burns very freely in its freshly cut green state, a 
useful quality in these humid rain forests. 
In the afternoon we retraced our steps to Perales down 
the corduroy trail, and I left at five the next morning to 
return to Armenia ; owing, however, to heavy rains, and 
the bad state of the road, I did not reach there till late 
in the evening. 
Armenia to Cartago. 
On November 25th we proceeded to Cartago. Leaving 
the picturesque Quindio river on the left, we passed 
through excellent agricultural lands, more or less level in 
nature for the first part, later changing into rolling hills, 
around which the road winds interminably. One of the 
features of the landscape in this day’s journey is the 
abundance of bamboo ; a useful plant since nearly all 
the houses or ranches in this region are constructed 
almost entirely of it, including the roof, for the bamboo 
in its half section makes very serviceable tiles. 
These lands struck me as being especially suitable for 
tobacco, but I noticed that the variety in cultivation is 
one that .grows very rank and has very little aroma. With 
the introduction of seed of suitable varieties, and the 
subsequent careful selection of seed by the planters, as 
well as care in the curing of the leaf, this industry might 
be placed on a most lucrative footing. The cultivation 
of tobacco, however, is a very special subject, and those 
desirous of engaging in it on a commercial basis would 
be well advised to secure the services of an experienced 
tobacco planter, should it be desired to avoid failure. 
The land and climate are admirably adapted to the culti- 
vation of a really good tobacco, and there is no reason 
why tobacco equal to that produced in Jamaica should not 
be grown in this region, but it should be emphasized that 
it is necessary to give special attention to the selection of 
the seed, the planting, and to the curing of the leaf. 
In this day’s journey we observed important and exten- 
sive areas devoted to sugar-cane, maize and pastures. 
In the evening we reached and stayed at the village La 
Balsa. 
The following day we left early, and at 9 a.m. reached 
the river La Vieja at the bridge known as Piedra de 
Moler. Ascending the hill on the opposite side we 
obtained an excellent view of the Cauca valley, in which 
is situated the ancient town of Cartago, and a further 
hour’s journey in the descent brought us to the town 
itself. 
Area, Population, and Impressions of Caldas. 
Having thus terminated a round trip through the 
greater part of the Department of Caldas, it may be 
appropriate here to give briefly some of the impressions 
formed. 
The Department comprises some 14,000 square kilo- 
metres in area. In climate it comprises all intermediate 
grades between tropical and cold, which for general 
classification may be divided into (1) tropical, (2) sub- 
tropical, or Iciiiplada, and (3) cold. The greater area of 
the Department is comprised within the lewplada and 
cold zones ; a climate therefore admirably suited for the 
most part to the white race, which is the predominating 
element of the existing population. In the provinces 
bordering on the Magdalena and Cauca rivers, as well as 
in the mining districts of Marmato and Supia, the black 
race is represented ; while in the district of Riosucio 
there are also inhabitants of the Indian race. 
Statistics of tlie population of Caldas (census taken 
October, 1918) forms Appendix I ; from this it will be 
seen that the Department has a total population of 401,061 . 
This is an increase of 59,863 since the last census was 
taken in 1912, and amounts to approximately 29 persons 
to the square kilometre, an increase in the last seven 
years of 5 persons to the kilometre, a very satisfactory 
rate. 
The Department of Caldas is an important and pro- 
gressive section of the country, and it possesses natural 
elements essential to the continued development and 
progress of the country. It owns the richest gold mines 
in the country, and possesses mineral resources as yet 
practically untouched, including coal. 
It comprises extensive areas suitable for agricultural 
pursuits, for coffee, sugar, maize, cacao, tobacco, cotton, 
beans, rice, [rotatoes, wheat, barle}’, &c., &c. There are 
furtlier great possibilities for extending pastoral lands 
and for developing the cattle industry and also sheep 
farming. The Department should have a competent 
veterinary surgeon, who could not only deal with the 
diseases of the cattle, but also be able to advise the cattle 
owners as to the best means of improving the race and 
increasing their herds. 
There are extensive areas suitable for sheep farming in 
the mountainous regions, yet little or no attention is given 
to this subject. This is partly because mutton is not 
a favourite meat with the country people, and partly 
because of the losses inflicted occasionally by wild 
animals, especially the puma. With, however, local 
markets established for wool, a considerable expansion 
in sheep farming might be expected, but good breeding 
stock should be imported. 
Coffee is the backboue of the commerce of the Depart- 
ment, tlie quality produced is excellent, .but there is 
generally a want of thoroughness in the cultivation that 
should be remedied ; the same, however, might be said 
of other cultivations also. With these brief reflections on 
Caldas, I will pass on to the Department of El Valle, and 
leave my recommendations respecting the measures which 
might be adopted for the encouragement and develop- 
ment of agriculture to the concluding part of this report. 
DEPARTMENT OF EL VALLE. 
Cartago. 
At Cartago I was detained three weeks, owing to an 
injured leg, sustained in an accident while descending the 
Quindio. Cartago is the capital of the province of the 
same name. It is an ancient town, originally founded in 
1540 on the Otun river, but subsequently transferred to 
its present site on the La Vieja river. The municipality 
has a population of 21,470, and is an important centre for 
the production of cacao, pancla^ coffee, tobacco, and also 
for cattle fanning. It is a busy commercial centre and 
has steamer communication with Cali, the town being 
connected with the river port Fresnero by an excellent 
cart road. If in respect to El Valle less statistics are 
given in this report, it is because that less attention has 
been given to the subject by the departmental Govern- 
ment and its Municipalities. 
At Cartago our mission had been joined by two agri- 
cultural students from Bogota, Sehores Rafael Lema and 
15 
