petrified coral^ and are shaded by the splendid 
foliage of the anacardium caracoli, a tree of co- 
lossal size, to which the natives attribute the 
property of attracting from great distances the 
vapours floating in the atmosphere. As the 
soil of Turbaco is more than three hundred 
metres above the level of the ocean, a delightful 
coolness prevails, especially during the night. 
We resided in this charming spot in the month 
of April, 1801, when, after a toilsome passage 
from the island of Cuba to Carthagena, we 
were preparing ourselves for a long journey to 
Santa Fe de Bogota, and the elevated plain of 
Quito. 
The Indians of Turbaco, who accompanied 
us in our herbalizations, often spoke to us of a 
marshy country, situate amidst a forest of palm 
trees, and called by the Creoles the little Volca- 
noes, los Volcancitos, They related, that ac- 
cording to a tradition still existing among them, 
this spot had formerly been in flames ; but that 
a very pious man, vicar of the village, had suc- 
ceeded by his frequent aspersions of holy water 
in extinguishing the subterraneous fire. They 
added, that, since this time, the fiery volcano 
had become a water volcano, volcan de agua. 
From our long residence in the Spanish colonies, 
we were familiar with the strange and marvellous 
stories, which the natives eagerly recite, to fix the 
