The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-28
INTERESTING FROM NEW GRANADA.


Oar Bsssta orrSspS"dense.
BO0oTA, NEW GRANADA, March 4, 1856.
lhc FGHs Of TSquandama-Ore Of the Natural
Wonders Of Ne,o Granada Visit thereto by Oar
Correspondent Preparations for the Journey
What h. Sap ON his Way to the Fdils- A Re
past of Neao Potatoes and Eggs-The Indian
Gaide-4scent Of a Maintain Riige-Distant
Vssso of tie Fa1tS-DifloaRies Of approached
Whiripcol- Rocks ard f'recip,css--An Inhcspi-
table Nat;rs-6srtt0t at the r lis, &c, &c.
have just returned from visit TO the celebrated
Falls of TequandaMa, which have been 80 justly
praised by saron tiuH boldt AMI every subsequent
Icavcer in these regions, and short sketch Of my
saip may not lie Unpleasant 10 your readers.
Efforts were made TO get up a large party; but as
usual such octssi ma, when one cd,d go another
couid not, until at last Judge 3. ana myself deter
mined to wait no longer, and accordingly made our
Preparations for s.,e enterprise These Te-e
saIily somewha. complex, and We determined to
undertake the irnli task Of reaching the foo. Of
tie fall by ascending the bed Of the torrent,
feat which had been accomplished, although
she usual way Of getting Into the chasm that
tarms the bed Of the river is to be lowered
by means OF ropes several hundred feet down the
precipice Our "trip would o icupy three days ut
kas, in almost nninhabited country and the fest
thought was the eatables; tongues were to he
boiled, sandwiches 70 be made cheese purchased,
chocolate laid in, and any other little condiments
that could be put into paie od-fashoned saddle
bags were to be hunted up and slowed away.
All these preparations for the comfort and suppor.
OF The inner man being completed over night, we
mounted early the next morning. accompanied by q
single servant. The riding dress in universal use
here is well adapted to the climate, but when first
WCrn one feels something ~ he imagines the old
amor cased knights TO have felt when ACQUIRED
for the field. pair OF large and stiff hide over
hauls encase the legs and protect them from the
| usual accomplishments of u journey among
the Andes, ten thousand feet above the level Of the
sea, such as uttng points u rock along the craggy
Soads, sudden showers of hail and rain, and cold
blasts OF rarifed air that to penetrate one to
| sse bone. The feet are sheltered by large brass
stiIrup, made in the form of shoe, which goes
tnpling along the rocky sides Of the path, and over
the shouldersis thrown large impermeable yuana,
n shape like blanket, with slit in the centre,
through which to thrust the head falling down over
the asms and body protecting them completely from
wind, hail and rain. When yoo are once inside Of
all this, ond faily mounted, you feel confidence
that it would take pretty strong blow from lance
or halberd to drive you Out Of the deep and high
isAWeO sadole In which you sit
Our road lead us to the small Indian viii
lage of Soacha. in the plain of Bogota,
about three leagues from the city. From
the very moment, almost of our leaving the town we
could zee before us the misty crown Of Tequandlma
rising above the hills and then leaning gently away
over their SUBMITS to the north Crossing the river
Bogota we rode on, leaving the road to the falls on
eur left, and soon were enveloped in a cloud Of
mist that came rolling down the mountain side, till
ing the valley with darkness. short league
brought us to the Boca del Monte, (mouth of the
Aountain) where the descent from the high plain of
BOfota Logan.
The road is what is here call "a horseshoe road"
being 'mrracticahle for anything of the wheel kind,
and runs down most steep declivity, III constant
short turrs, like the letter 8, in series of what
should lie properly called stone stairs, for distance
Of two or two and a-half miles, The descent in this
short distance cannot be less than five thousand
feet, for we came almost at once upon the
vegetation of the tropics, where the plantain and
tie palm We'd with each other in uxuriance. lit
tie more than league from the foot of the noun.
t'in brought us TO the top of sharp crested hill, at
the foot Of which ran the river, having made its
fearful leap and now running, roaring and boiling
over torrent bed Of immense bolders, now smooth
ard wnded by the foaning water. wicker like
bridge. supported By poles, spanned the steam and
We obliged to dsmount and cross it on foot as
lis swayng motion would not permit US to ride over
The hills on the other side presented gentle slope
down 10 the river bank and on the margin OF clear
mOuLtsin stream was a picturesque sawmill, that
bad been built by an American many years since
ard now belonged to MIR. McAllister. a native Of
Scotland. The crystal torrent and the turning
wheel, with easy motion formed pleasing contrast
with the raging river into which it ran.
We stayed all night at the mill, our weary
ride made hard beds welcome. Mr.. McAllister was
not at home, but we received Highland welcome
from his steward who spread before US an abundant
repast Of eggs and new potatoes, that exceed any
thing Of their kind / have ever eaten in Europe or
America. In the morning he furnished us guide
TO the Indian village Of Cushos, and we retraced our
steps over the rckety bridge. Our Indian boy
travelled on foot; but SO easily did he ascend the
steep paths, and glide along over rocks and fern,
that he seemed to me winged Mercury, and often
he obliged to wait while our horses struggled up
the toilsome paths that he had mounted with the
greatest ease.
After wearying ascent of nearly half an hour, i
suddenly found myself on the sharp and narrow crest
of mountain looking down hundreds of feet into
the valley below. My horse followed the road, turn
Ing sharply to the right, along one Of those sharp
and narrow ridges peculiar to the Andes. Ny brain
swan with the dizzy scene, and turned my eyes to
the other side to seek relief But the path up which
We had wound our snake like way curled along
mountain side so steep that single false step upon
the narrow path would have sent myself and horse
rolling down what was little less than precipice,
into the valley below few yards brought us to
little wider spot on the top Of the ridge, and was
giddy with the precpuous descent on either hand,
that had to dismount and lie down to recover my.
self. Judge B. rode unmoved along, calling out to
ne continually to look upon the magnificent
scene below and all around US; but this
only added to my perturbation. coald
look upon nothing; 80 closing my eyes, lay in