and fortifications, consisting of long curtains surrounded with parapets. From the circumstance of the strata of all these corresponding in a singular manner, the philosopher abovementioned supposes, that the valley must have been sunk by some sudden convulsion of nature, leaving the sides of those hills uncovered, whose bases were of more solid materials than itself. The same thing is observable on the banks of the Orinoco, though nothing of the kind is to be seen in Peru, where nature is so infinitely varied in her alpine scenery.

The river Magdalena is infested with alligators, from eighteen to twenty feet in length; but they are said generally to fly from man, and only to attack him if they have by accident fed on human flesh.

The climate is not so unhealthy or hot as that of Carthagena; the heat being moderated by the winds, which blow over the cold mountains of the Sierra de Abibe, and the Nevada of Santa Marta, whose summits reach far beyond the lower term of perpetual congelation.

The government of Santa Marta contains from 250,000 to 300,000 persons.

The mines are of very little importance. Some gold is found in the river Ariguana, ninety miles from the capital; and at the village of Ocana, copper ores are dug up.

The pearl fishery was formerly carried on at Carrizal, about forty miles east of the chief

city, and was very productive. It is still followed on different parts of the coasts, and yields some excellent pearls; but the undertaking appears to be badly conducted.

In Santa Marta and Carthagena, the banks of the Magdalena, which has been styled the Danube of New Grenada, are famed for the excellent cacao they produce. So great is the demand for the chocolate of the Magdalena, that enough cannot be raised in the provinces above-mentioned to supply the market, and they are obliged to import the cacao of Caracas and Guiana, in order to mix them with it. The excellence of the Magdalena chocolate may be attributed to the marshy nature of the soil, as the plant never thrives where the ground is hard and dry, and requires to be shaded by other trees from the sun.

This province produces also some cotton, tobacco, palm wine, brazil wood, sugar, vanilla, and maize, and a peculiar tree, whose unctuous leaves afford a substance used by the natives as

soap.

The valleys feed immense quantities of cattle, which are killed and salted for exportation. Some mules are also reared.

Most of the rivers which fall into the Magdalena are rapid, on account of the vicinity of the Cordilleras on each side. It may be easily imagined, that such streams cannot be crossed with stone bridges, in consequence of the im

mense pressure of the water, and because of the volumes of rock and earth which they roll from the interior. Bridges of most singular construction are therefore adopted, to facilitate the land journey from Santa Marta or Carthagena: roots of plants, twisted together into the form of cables as thick as a man's thigh, are placed across the torrent: two of these are laid parallel to each other, at about four or five feet distant, and stretched on each side over a trestle of wood, having a windlass at one end to tighten them over these cables are placed fascines, or branches of trees; and a little higher than the two bottom ropes, are fixed two slighter ones, in order to serve as ballustrades. When a large river is crossed in this manner, the weight of the cables causes the bridge to form a considerable curve or concavity, and the traveller arriving in the centre, experiences a very unpleasant, and sometimes dangerous oscillation.

In other places, three or four thongs of leather are plied into a rope, which being made fast on the most elevated bank of the torrent, is carried over, and secured on the lower shore, so as to form an angle of fifteen or sixteen degrees: the passenger is suspended on the higher side to a sort of pulley formed by the bifurcation of two branches of a tree; the cord of leather is then tightened, and the traveller descends with such rapidity, that sparks of fire are emitted from the pulley in consequence of

the friction, and he is obliged to keep his head averted to prevent these sparks from falling in his eyes: A man is however placed on the upper bank holding a long cord, which is attached to the body of the passenger, to check the too great rapidity of the descent.

Numbers of these flying machines, which are called tarabitas, are established on all the rivers connected with the Magdalena; and for the convenience of travellers going and coming, they are placed alternately, as close to each other as the higher and lower shores of the streams afford proper opportunities.

SECTION XX.

THE CITY OF SANTA MARTA, &c.

THE chief city of this province is Santa Marta, 100 miles north-east of Carthagena, in 11° 19′ 2′′ north latitude, 74° 4′ 30′′ west longitude.

The town has considerably declined of late years, having only a trifling trade with Carthagena, and the other Spanish ports.

The climate, though exceedingly hot, is not so unhealthy as that of Carthagena.

The town is supplied with excellent water by the river Guayra, which passes close to it. The banks of this stream are adorned with beautiful trees, and are very fertile.

It has a very large and convenient harbour, which is protected by lofty ridges, and has in front a round hill defending it on the side of the snowy mountains.

The harbour has two forts for its defence.

1. PUEBLA CORDOVA is a small town on the coast, 20 miles south of Santa Marta.

2. PUEBLA NUEVA is also a small town, 62 miles south of the capital.

3. TENERIFFE is in 10° 2' north latitude, 74° 30′ west longitude, 80 miles south-south-west of the capital.

4. PUEBLA DE LOS REYES, and TAMALAMEQUE, are two other small towns of the province.

5. OCANA, or SANTA ANNA, is a little town, near which copper is found, situate on the Rio de Oro, 220 miles south of Santa Marta, in 7° 50' north latitude, 73° 26' west longitude.

The district of Rio de la Hacha bounds the province of Maracaibo on the west.

6. The town of HACHA is situated in 11° 28′ north latitude, 72° 46′ west longitude, 210 miles east-north-east of Carthagena, on a river of the same name, and close to its junction with the Caribbean Sea.

Gold and precious stones are occasionally discovered in this district, the interior of which