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Maize.
The natives living at Carare have discovered the fer- tility of the alluvial lands of the Carare river, and at various points along its banks within fifty kilometers of its mouth, are to be found clearings planted with maize. They merely clear the forest and sow the grain without any preparation of the land whatsoever. Excel- lent crops are obtained in this way and demonstrate the wonderful fertility of the soil, and the great possibilities of producing heavy crops of maize wtih proper methods of cultivation.
Copal or Algarrobillo.
A kind of copal known locally as Algarrobillo is found in the interior of Carare, but is not at present exported owing to the low price offered locally. A sample has been forwarded to Europe for a report on its quality and present value, to ascertain whether trade in this product may not be revived. This copal is probably the product of Hymenaea splendida, Tr. a large tree which affords a wood of remarkable durability.
Tagua,
Togna or vegetable ivory is the principal forest prod- uct now exported from Carare. This is collected from the taguales of the interior, and the collection of the nuts forms the chief occupation of the inhabitants.
Sarsaparilla.
I noticed this plant in the drier forests at Puerto Parra. Sarsaparilla is collected from the Cordilleras on both sides of the Magdalena river and conveyed to Cartagena where it is sold. This drug is obtained from a species of Smilaz, in all probability S. ornata, Hook.
The F., a wide climbing plant ascending lofty trees. plant has a stout rhizonte, which throws off slender cylindrical roots that creep for several feet a few inches below the surface. It is these roots, which when dried and made into bundles, that constitute the drug in its form for export.
Nuche.
I observed no cattle along the Carare except towards the mouth of the river, and I was surprised to find these suffering badly from warbles or nuche. This is caused by Dermatobia hominis, a fly generally found in the temperate zone. It is curious how this pest has become established in this lowland extra-tropical part, but I am informed that the banks of the Magdalena are free from the fly and that cattle removed from the Carare to the Magdalena soon become free from nuche.
Baranca Bermeja.
Petroleum,
On September 3rd I left for Baranca Bermeja, where an American Company are actively engaged in import- ing and erecting machinery for working the local oil fields. I called at this port with the object of visiting the interior, but owing to the impassable state of the country I resolved to continue the journey down the river to Puerto Wilches.
Puerto Wilches.
Copaiba.
On the 6th I left the port for Kilometer Viente, as the abrupt terminus of the local railway line is called which starts from Puerto Wilches and extends towards Buca- ramanga for a distance of only 20 kilometers. The forest through which this unfinished line passes appears to be of the same character as the forests of the lower Magdalena generally. I observed, however, that the Copaiba tree is fairly abundant; this tree in addition to furuishing the Balsam of Copaiba, as mentioned in a previous part of this report, furuishes a valuable timber. Puerto Wilches is mainly of importance as the port for Bucaramanga, produce being brought by mules as far as Kilometer Viente and thence by train to the Magdalena river.
Gamarra.
On the 7th I continued down the river as far as Gamarra. In this day's journey the character of the country begins to alter, being more open and cattle more in evidence, especially on the Bolivar side. My object in visiting Gamarra was to look into the the tagua in- dustry, and on the 8th I left the port for the tagnales of
The Tagua or Vegetable-Ivory Palm
The Promenade at Barranquilla
the interior. Passing through the village of Aguachica we camped the first night at Totumal, a small village. which lies about two hours distant from Aguachica. The next day we left Totumal for the taguales, and the following day returned to Gamarra via Totumal and Aguachica. The country traversed was mainly bush land with extensive open sabanas, on which I noticed fine herds of cattle.
Tagua Industry.
The taguo or ivory-nut palm (Phytelephus macro- carpa, R. et P.) is of social habit and is found growing together over considerable areas, generally in wet and heavy clayish land. The palm is stemless, having only a rootstock from which the leaves and fruits are pro- duced but little above the ground level. It is dioecious. Consequently only the female palms bear fruit, which as a rule represent about fifty per cent. The nuts as they are known in commerce are borne in heads, one head containing about fifty nuts. These heads arc usually collected and carried to a tree, where, on the spreading roots, they are beaten out with a wooden mallet. In good seasons, when there is a good crop, as many as four or five arrobas are collected by one person in a day.
Corozo or Cuesco.
In my journey to the tagnales, I was struck with the abundance of a palm known locally as coroso, a name unfortunately applied indiscriminately to many palms. It is evidently identical with the palm known in the Tolima as cuesco, though the fruits are much larger ban the Tolima variety. As these palms are exceed-
• An arroba is 25 lbs.
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The Cathedral at Barranquilla
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