Fig. IX.— The C.\uc.^ River .at La Virginia. 
Oil the following clay we left Kiosucio at noon foi' 
Anserma. Torrential rains fell that afternoon, and we did 
not reach onr destination till 9 p.m. Ansenna has an 
altitude of 1,790 metres, and an average temperature of 
17 C. Coffee growing is one of the most important 
industries of the region ; the district possesses two coffee 
Iril/aihnis, one worked by electric force and the other by 
water power. There are two mines in operation, and a 
soap factory. Also several sugar mills of different 
descriptions, which produce about 40,000 cdrgas ^ of 
pane] a a year. 
Almost throughout the whole line of route, within a 
temperate range of climate, I noticed that Jlque was 
being grown to a very considerable extent. In most of 
the towns that we passed through the hc]ue fibre 
was being converted into cordage and sacks. This 
is a comjiaratively new industry and is the result of the 
European war, having been brought about by the difliculty 
in obtaining jute bags from the foreign markets. Neces- 
sity has proved the mother of invention in this case, and it 
may be hoped that this important local industry will 
develop aiicl not be allowed to decline. Nearly every- 
where one meets with Jiqnc on the road as a hedge plant. 
Here at Anserma I observed that there was much 
enthusiasm in evidence, with little liand looms busy turning 
out sacks for the export of coffee, as if they had been 
accustomed to do so for many years. 
On November 14th, we left at 10 a.m. for Belacazar, 
reaching there in the evening. We passed through a 
good deal of forest land this day, and I noticed that the 
forest of the upper reaches contained a goodly number of 
Cinchona trees, the bark of which is the source of quinine. 
Belacazar possesses two coffee Irilladoras, one being 
situated in the town and the other in the village of La 
\hrgiiiia ; the former is worked by electric power and the 
latter by steam, they have an annual capacity of 1 (SO, 000 
and 90,000 arrohns respectively. Coffee is the principal 
industry of this municipality, sugar cane however is grown 
to a considerable extent, and some attention is given to 
mining. Belacazar lies at 1 ,700 metres’ altitude above sea- 
level, and its medium temperature is 19° C. It has an 
electric plant for sujiplying light and power. 
The next day we proceeded at mid-day to the Cauca 
river, arriving at La Virginia at 3.30 in the afternoon. 
The road follows the ridge that divides the Cauca from the 
Rizaralda valley and from it magniheent views of both 
valleys and the surrounding country are obtained. The 
road gradually descends until the lowland country is 
reached. La \h’rginia is a port on the Cauca river, and 
boats ply up and down almosr daily. Here the scenery 
is delightful and a change to the mountainous scenes 
we had passed through. Tall palms are conspicuous in 
the forests, but still more conspicuous in the open 
land's which have been converted from forest to pasture, 
since their hardness delies the axe, and they remain 
consequently unfelled. Extensive areas devoted to 
paslures, including guinea and pai d grasses, make this an 
important cattle district. At the junction of the Cauca 
and Rizaralda river lies the important hacienda of Porto- 
bello, which is the jiroperty of Don Francisco Jaramillo, 
and here we were kindly entertained the night. 
The Southern Part of Caldas. 
The following day we set out for Pereira, and crossing 
the river Cauca, the road ascends the mountain slope 
covered with \'irgin forest. We then passed through 
extensive pasture lands which had been recently estab- 
lished, when- we gained the Cartago- Pereira road, the 
lirst really good broad road that we had come across in 
our travels. From here onward to Pereira it is one grand 
and beautiful expanse of pasture lands, and one could not 
help admiring the line quality of the cattle. 
'The town of Pereira, which we reached on market day, 
is situated on the banks of the Otun river. It has an 
altitude abo\'e sea-level of 1,418 metres, and an average 
' A caiga is 6 arrobas or 150 lbs. 
Fig. X.— The Cauca River. 
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