Brasil-Wood Awaiting Shipment at Santa Marta
products of economic importance which might, as I have mentioned. be exploited.
Trinta.
On the 7th we left El Abra, and our journey contin- ued during the first part of the day through lands of poor character similar to those of the preceding day. In a few hours, however, we reached lands with denser vegetation and better soil watered by various streams, and passed small settlements at frequent intervals. Cattle farming is the principal occupation of these parts. but I could not help noting the inferiority of the breed of cattle as compared with the herds of the Goajiran Indians. This more fertile zone was, however, in the latter part of this day's journey, replaced by poor, stony and sterile lands, which did not improve as the north- eastern spur of the Sierra Nevada range was ap- proached. At various intervals we passed caravans laden with produce, chiefly panela, en route to Rio Hacha, the capital of the province. Early in the afternoon we reached the village of Trinta, which is a collection of unwhitewashed and mud houses grouped around a square at the base of the serranda; bearing it comparison, I thought, with the picturesque towns of the interior. I noticed here, and indeed throughout the province, that the epiphytic skin disease known as pinta is exceedingly prevalent in persons of both sexes. There is an entire absence in Trinta of any commercial activity, the in- habitants being dependent on local agriculture.
On the 8th we left Trinta and commenced the climb over the northeastern spur of the Sierra Nevada in the direction of the Caesar Valley. Here the vegetation changed and we noted many graceful palms and passed through beautiful forest land. The palms referred to are known locally as Corúa, and the fruits afford a kernel which is edible and has the flavor of coconut, The road
over the serrania is, however, a bad one, in turn, steep ascents and descents and very rocky. Avoiding the more rocky and steep lands, suitable parts may be found for cacao and coffee.
In descending the serrania we passed beautiful por- treros of guinea-grass owned by a lady. On reaching her ranche, our animals, tired out by the trying hill journey, being mules of Goajira and not accustomed to hill climbing, we were tempted to stay the night. We inquired of this lady of the hills whether we could be provided with pasture for our animals, but she in- formed us that she had no pasture today, and advised us to proceed to Fonseca which she assured us was quite close by and where we should reach before nightfall. We proceeded and on reaching the base of the hills had to cross the Rio Rancheria in the dusk, and not knowing We then the passing got wet through in doing so. reached the plains of the valley, covered, we could per- ceive in the dusk, by scrub forest. There being many tracks and our mules tired with their unusual journey. gave a lot of trouble by wandering frequently in the wrong direction. Eventually they stampeded in the bush and we heard with dismay our loads banging against tree after tree; we lost quite an hour in re- Con- capturing them and re-arranging their loads.
tinuing our journey we eventually reached Fonseca at the late hour of 9.30 p. m., and although in no good humour I freely forgave the lady of the hills the dis- courtesy of refusing us, out of her abundance, pasture for our few animals, but not for deluding us as to the distance to Fonseca!
Fonseca
1 sallied forth in the early morning to find that Fon- seca is a picturesque little township, situated between the Sierra Nevada range and the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes, of something like four thousand inhabi-
tants. The little houses are neat and whitewashed and at once present the appearance of possessing a more prosperous and industrious population. The town bears, however, the scars of the last revolution, remains of buildings telling the tale that it has not yet fully re- covered the blow then received. Cattle raising andi sugar-cape growing for panela are the principal scen- pations. The lands are somewhat sandy and poor, but considerable areas are irrigated from the river Ran. cheria which flows past the town; this is the same river which at Rio Hacha is known as Calancara.
Barrancas.
Later on the 9th I left for Barrancas in company with the Alcalde of Fonseca. Barrancas is situated about two leagues from Fonseca, and the road traverses poor. sandy or stony lands, with a small peasant rancho here and there. The town of Barrancas possesses an ex- cellent situation between the two great mountain ranges, but is composed principally of wattle-and-daub houses. for the most part unwhitewashed. The town has evi- dently seen better days, it has suffered from frequent fires, and the ruined houses around the square depict a tale of poverty and want.
Coal.
My visit to Barrancas was made specially to inquire into the coal deposits said to be found in the Cordillera at Cerrejon, but on arrival there found the coal further from Barrancas than I was led to believe, so later the same evening we returned to Fonseca. I am told that coal has been found at Conejo and at other points along the Cordillera. so it would appear that these are out- crops of the same vein, and that coal is abundant throughout this region of the Cordillera. If this be so, it is a point of considerable importance for the future development of this section of the Department, for what would more justify a railway through to the Goajira peninsula with its terminus in the bay of El Portete as a coaling station and shipping port, than rich mines of enal?
San Juan del Caesar.
On the 10th we left Fonseca at 9 a. m. and arrived at San Juan del Caesar at I p. m., à distance of some four leagues. The lands between these towns are covered with scrub forest, are poor and sandy in character and with little or no water. Brasil-wood and divi-divi are found at irregular intervals, and I noted on nearing San Juan that the Aloe which is cultivated at Rio Hacha is fairly common. San Juan del Caesar is a pretty town and lies on the banks of the Rio Caesar; it is the more aristocratic of those we passed through, for does not the youth of the Province boast with pride when he is about to marry a young lady of San Juan? Cattle farming and sugar-cane growing for panela are also the principal industries of this neighborhood. San Juan feels, probably as much as either of these towns, its isolation from centres of commerce and the need for roads and more rapid means of communication. In spite of the difficulties of situation and transport, the inhabitants struck me as being industrious and hard- working.
seen.
Brasilwood Trees.
In the morning of the 11th I was kindly accompanied from San Juan on a short excursion to the cascade of the Rio Caesar at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, by Señor Dr. Rodolfo Danies. From San Juan to the cascade I noted the lands of a very poor and sandy character, but I was surprised to find extensive forests of brasil-wood trees of a larger size than I had hitherto I had met with nothing to bear comparison with these rich forests of brasil-wood in the Goajira pen- insula, nor have I seen its equal since; unfortunately, however, its situation precludes the possibility of its exploitation at present. The cascade of the Rio Caesar is a miniature Tequendama, and the power it affords night some day be harnessed and applied to economic use in the district. In the afternoon I left alone for Villa Nueva, having sent my caravan on in advance in the early morning. I noted a considerable improvement in the character of the lands to those we traversed in the preceding days. The chief industries of Villa Nueva are cattle farming and coffee growing in the neigh- bouring hills.
PROVINCIA DE VALLE DUPAR.
Orumito.
The boundary of the Provincias of Padilla and Valle Dupar we passed this day, Villa Nueva being situated in the latter. The Province of Valle Dupar is the largest in area of the Department, and has according to the last census 23,477 inhabitants. On the 12th I sent my caravan from Villa Nueva to Valle Dupar direct early in the morning, with the intention of making a hurried journey to the coffee growing region in the Sierra Montaña, Señor Antonio Aponte, the Alcalde of Villa Nueva, was good enough to accompany me and we set out about midday, passing about an hour later the village of Orumito where we lunched on the way.
Copper.
Numerous claims have been registered at Villa Nueva for copper fields in this region, and if the number of claims means anything, the locality should be rich in copper. Certainly I was presented at Orumico with an exceptionally rich sample of this ore, which is said to have been found in a claim registered as "Chiquinquira." This sample, which represents almost pure copper is now on view at the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce at Bogotá. Suitable means of communication must be provided before any value can be placed on the copper finds of this locality. This means must needs be a rail- way, for how can the necessary machinery and plant be brought to this locality otherwise, or the ore exported
20
21
129