:
heavy losses incurred in that zone through the floods. Although in the dry season the cattle have to be re- moved from the plains to the playones, the permanent waters in the vicinity of the Caesar river affords a guarantee of abundant green pasture even in the driest seasons, a fact of great importance for this region.
Dipping of Cattle.
The question, however, of the improvement of the local breed, is one that needs serious attention. Very little care appears to be given to the selection of breed- ing stock, with the result that the race leaves much to be desired. The tick pest is also one that must be handied, and dipping tanks established at convenient centers for the systematic dipping of cattle periodically, The tick most common is probably the Boophilus australis, Fuller, which is also found all along the Mag- dalena river. Tabanid flies are also very common in various parts from the Goajira peninsula to the Mag- dalena river, the species found in Goajira is Tabanus trilincsts Latr, and probably this and other species ex- tend throughout this region.
Chiriguaná.
On the following day we left by cance at dusk for El Banco, breaking the journey at Chiriguaná where we reached about noon on the 8th. Here I was met by the genial Prefecto of Valle Dupar, Señor General Nehemias Maestre, to whom I am indebted for much valuable assistance in my journey through the Province
Cacao.
The next day, accompanied by the Prefecto and several gentlemen of Chiriguaná, we visited a cacaotole in the neighbourhood. Cacao was at one time more ex- tensively cultivated in this neighbourhood than it is to-
day, having given place to cattle raising. Owing to the long dry seasons which occur here, cacao appears to be a speculative cultivation without irrigation, and I am doubtful if it yields remunerative crops.
Pita de Colombia.
On the 10th I visited the pitales which are found on the Santander road on the river Anime about one and a half leagues from Chiriguana, The pita is a fibre plan of considerable importance in this locality; as the local people when they have little else to do go into the forests and extract the fibre for the local markets. The fibre has a great reputation for its strength and durability, it being used by bootmakers locally in sub- stitution for thread and for a variety of purposes, in- It is sold at Chiriguana at the cluding fishing nets. rate of 15 centavos per pound, and at El Banco at the absurdly high rate of 25 to 30 centavos per pound. Pita is an inappropriate name for this plant since sisal is It is also in certain countries known by that name. known locally under the name of Pita del Opón, but this name is also inappropriate, since it is not only found on the Opón river but also on the Carare and Caesar, and it is said also in the Choco and the llanos of San Martin I therefore suggest that it may be more appropriately named Pita de Colombia. I believe this is a fibre plant with a great future, it grows in the shade of for- est over extensive areas; in fact densely established nature-sown plantations, through which it is quite impossible to pass without cutting a way through. I forwarded a sample of this fibre to Kew last year, and it was then valued by London brokers (March) at £40 a ton, if shipped in quantities of not less than 100 tons at a time. I have since sent a sample to the Government Fibre Expert of the United States, who reported that i would command a price equal to that Yucatan henequén which was then (February, 1917) quoted at the high
PITA DE COLOMBIA—A View In One of the PITALES of Chirigoaná
30
value of 16% cents per pound in New York. In my opinion, the exploitation of this fibre should, in the near future, develop into a most important industry in these parts. These nature-established plantations are to be found over vast areas and in accessible locations where lecorticating plant can be easily imported, conveyed and established, and where freight rates to the coast are insignificant. The existing types of decorticating ma- chinery may need some modification since the pita leaf is more membraneous and of different texture to the leaves of sisal or fique, but these are questions which are now being studied. I may mention that this plant helongs to the pineapple family, Bromeliaceae, but the species has not yet been determined satisfactorily.
Guanabanitá.
On the plains at Chiriguaná, I noted an interesting vinoua; a shrub bearing an orange-colored edible fruit known locally, from the resemblance of the young fruits to the Guanaband, as Guanabanitó. The fruit is very attractive in appearance, and may be possibly improved as a table fruit by cultivation, Seed has been procured with that object in view,
Chiriguana to Chimichagwa.
On the evening of the 10th we departed from Chiri- guand down the river for El Banco. Having recently travelled through hot and dry regions we had not given the possibility of rain a thought, and had not therefore provided for it in fitting out our canoe. At about mid- night an awful storm arose and rain fell in torrents, drenching ourselves and almost swamping the canoe. So heavy and penetrating was this aguacero in the cool hours of the night, that both boatmen fell down help- less with ague and fever, and we had to tether the canoe to the bank until they recovered, Eventually we reached Chimichagwa at 4 o'clock in the morning, but
Roads and Communications.
as the village was some little distance from the port, and moreover asleep, some hours passed before we could change our sodden clothes. We rested at Chimi- chagwa the whole of that day, as I was too ill with fever to proceed; having suffered continuous attacks since leaving Valle Dupar, and my condition had not im- proved by the exposure to the storm of the previous night.
Chimichagwa to El Banco,
On the 12th we left Chimichagwa for El Banco. In this day's journey we had to pass the Cienega; the boat. men have considerable fear in crossing this large ex- panse of water, as in windy weather the passage can be a very rough one and very dangerous for the canoes. We crossed, however, in safety, and spending a night at a village on the way, we reached El Banco the next morning glad that we had at last reached the main road to Bogotá.
Fishing.
The principal industry along the Caesar river, particu- larly along the lower part and the Cienega, is fishing. Fish of excellent quality is exceedingly abundant, and fishing affords a livelihood to a large number of people in this region, El Banco is consequently an important port of the Magdalena in connection with trade in fish.
Recent Floods.
We had an excellent opportunity of seeing, in the vil- lages along the Caesar towards its mouth, the damage that had been done to property by the recent floods. This whole region had been flooded in November and December previously, the buildings standing in a metre or more of water. As most of these buildings are of wattle-and-daub, and the daub had been dissolved away up to the water line, the houses presented a curious ap- pearance, the lower parts showing nothing but the frame work.
CONCLUSIONS.
One thing is certain, that until the pack mule be re- placed by more efficient and modern means of transport, there can be no appreciable development either in agri- culture, mining or any commercial industry in this De- partment, As long as the pack mule is the vehicle by which the markets are reached, the present unsatisfac- tory conditions will continue. The most urgent need of this Department is therefore railways and roads. It would be possible to link up by a cart and motor road the various towns from Rio Hacha to El Paso, the navigable point to the Magdalena river on the Rio Caesar, Such a road, however, would be costly to con- struct
most to maintain, and there is no doubt that the
means of communication would be a rail- way, since there are many products in the interior parts such as timber, brasil-wood, divi-divi, salt, etc., that would not pay to transport by road, only as low freight produce by rail.
R1
The Need of a Railway from Goajira to Rio Magdalena.
I understand that it has been proposed to construct a railway from Goajira to Tamalemeque on the Rio Mag- dalena, with the object of its being eventually extended to Bogotá. Such a line would render possible the ex- ploitation of the indigenous products such as salt (from Goajira), timber, brasil-wood, divi-divi, pita de Colom- bia, maguey, etc., etc. It would give an impetus to plantation industries such as sugar growing, cotton cul- tivation, coffee planting, cacao, ginger, etc, It would facilitate the movement and export of cattle and the im- portation of breeding stock. It would help to develop Goajira, if such a railway traversed the peninsula to the bay of Et Portete, since it must do as Rio Hacha is only an open roadstead and not a port where steamers can call. It would place the interior parts of this De- partment within touch with the centers of commerce and civilization, and it would liberate the large number
134