Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-06-29
pub)ic of Colombia .. present. Atfrst

sta emeht. but when we renect 'bat tne
valley Of Bogots 10 from 20 to 20 mlles
in length. and an average breadth OF a.
bout % miles, that the mountains IN
every direction srouud this spacious
vale, are capable OF culture TO their sum-
mits, and in their IaviDes, that 1t Is 81.
tusted in climate without q parallel
on the globe for brn,gnny and sslubr'-
~, that every plant and animal COM
mon to Europe would here find con.
genial soil aud element, we shall hnd
that the ldes of Its sustaining IN rural
comfort. a population OF three m'il'ons
of Inhabitants, by no means extrava-
CANT. in France and the t'ooth OF Eu-
rope, we find mvte than three millions
of people eustained by agriculture IN
much less space. Yet ali this esten-
slve plain and fertile mountains are
pearly in the SAME virgin ate as when
fist discovered by the SPsnatds, and
probably wouid have remand 20,
many centuries longer, had The former
and pernic,ous policy of Spain oon'ino'
ed 10 wither AID blight all the great
ply sicsl blessings Of these regions.
While we iudulsea sentiment OF
profound indignation on oeholding the
sloo ny and fatal effect. of Spanish pc.
licy, we are al the ane time cheered
with the future prospect watch the law'
| Of Co ombis and liberal policy would
| produce: ere long, IN this highly favor,
ed country, which, lnsiead OF being con
! demned. al hi,her:o, to remain inactive
and useless ali this beautiful valley
aDd SIT ouDding mountains VIII become
The lode Of civilized many eioin8 sub.
s:sten q and felicity oupwa' d. OF three
III hon. Of inha bltanls How different
will be the iu'ure aspect of 'hss valley,
spread their advantages over the soil.
When horticul ufe emnrliIsues he couD
; ivy with modern improvements. and
when, IN fact, The Whole Of this vast
plain becomes dlvineo into small farms,
with orchard. Of choite fruit uees. end
beautiful cottages, hen, indeed, vii!
| the valley Of Bogota become g sPot OF
! residence truly desirable. and possess
ing more sdvsn ages. as regards Its
soil and CLINE. than any thing IN Eo.
rope or the United States
From the summit before mentioned,
We gradually dsseended abou, $40 feet,
through forests Of majestic trees, CLOTH
ed with deep green, and where every
inch of ground bOrs uneering evidence
of exoberant vegetation; where every
plant ofthe temperate zone wauld flou-
ri.h in q kindred soil, but excepting
one or two email spots of rude cultu' e;
ell the rest Of this beautiful mum! ain
region was as silent as the sepuIchre
save only now and then bird Of beau
tiful 2 image caught our eyes in the
thict &C, or our ears with its melodious
notes
We reached a level spot, where we
! i-H------'- -~--'.~--urrv ~ IerUHHuuHt
burst upon our view small river a,
bout forty yards vide, rushed down be
tween two IN u 'a'ns.un',li it approach.
ed the edge OF ne precipice, where il
pree,pitstely discharged column OF
water abou Is yards in width, and te
in diameter, into the great abyss below
This c asm of the mountain is what il
usually called Barranku-on both
sides it was nearly perpendicular con.
sisting of layers Of granite, its height
WIS about 1000 to 1900 fee; above this
body of stone, the country on each side
WAS crowned with large forest trees,
gradually rising to an immense height,
and presenting the finest scene | ever
! beheld: at the spot where the water
fell into the Bsrranca was about 600
feet, according to the measurement, of
Hnm6oidt. hut many of ne natives o {
Bog"ta give to The fall a much create,
dsseent-but, as Humboldt. in general
is accurate in his measurement of the
various heights in America and had the
advantage of The best INSTRUMENTS, his
/ account 10 much moro to be relied on.
than the vague opinions Of individual.
ltnabsoIu'ely impossible to describe
the fec, produced on tho spects or in
viewing this extraordinary salto, Meth
er is it in the power of Language to de.
pict, or the pencil Of the painter 10 con.
vey, any jus; idea Of the novelty of
the scene. felt emotions of pleasure
and surprise mingled with the most
profound awe. Some ofthe hardest q.
mong Us, ventured to approach he edge
OF the preclpice, but after q view of a
few seconds into the great abyss below,
involumstily sbrunk back. ! found
the safest and best mode was to crawl
Cd my belly to the brink of tho preci-
pice, which adopted, and thus oeIibe>
ra'ely ENJOYED p ollie view Of this
s,uPendous Salto. ! behold q body Of
wafer of the dimensions n. fora da.c,;h