eastern chain, either by the Mesa and Tocayma, 
or the natural bridges of Icononzo, traverse the 
valley of the river Magdalena, and cross the 
central chain. The most frequented passage is 
that of the Paramo de Guanacas, described by 
Bouguer, on his return from Quito to Cartha- 
gena. Pursuing this road the traveller crosses 
the ridge of the central Cordilleras in a single 
day, and amidst an inhabited country. We 
preferred the passage of the mountain of Quindiu, 
or Quindio, between the cities of Ibague and 
Carthago, the entrance of which passage is re- 
presented in the fifth plate These geogra- 
phical explanations seemed necessary to give a 
clear idea of the position of a place, which is 
not to be found in the most accurate charts of 
South America, even in that of La Cruz. 
The mountain of Quindiu, (lat. 4° 36', long. 
5^12') is considered as the most difficult pas- 
sage in the Cordilleras of the Andes. It is a 
thick uninhabited forest, which in the finest 
season cannot be traversed in less than ten or 
twelve days. Not even a hut is to be seen, nor 
can any means of subsistence be found. Tra- 
vellers at all times of the year furnish themselves 
with a month’s provision, since it often happens, 
that by the melting of the snows, and the sudden 
* See Plate V, folio edition. 
