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

inhabit that portion Of the country They assert
that the pass Of the river has been theirs and their
fathers for uDcounted generations, and that they
will not give up their ancestral rights They rebuild
the bridge as often az necessary, in token Of their
right Of sovereignty; but seldom, very seldom do
any OF their tribe require TO use it. II is foot
bridge only, our mules being obliged to swim the
river, aud its weight is suspended from the sturdy
branches OF an immense tree on either bank. At
Copper we examined a similar bridge, which the
worthy curate bad taught his parishioners TO ,on-
stIuct across the river Cantino. He had improved
upon the Indian hanging bridge, and had construct
ed one through the strong branches of trees wing
upon the precpitOus banks that horses and mules
can be led across.
Another day OF tortuous mountain climbing the road
working its serpentne way in place, up the bald
face OF crag for several hundred feet, where road
seemed to us pure impossbility, brought us 70 the
stately mansion Of Mr.. Paris. Although our rid
had been faigujng one we sat up late into til
night, in pleasing converse with this gentleman.
He is animated solely by spirit OF enterprisng i'm
proven ept for his country and has undertaken III
gigantic task OF draining the mountain lake OF Fu-
quepa and sabes,ing to the plough the fertile land,
it's waters now cover. II is an immense work, AMI
bis neigbbors shake their headsin wise donbt when
ever the subject is spoken of; bu. his practical skill
and clear comprehension will most probably demon
stIate the feasibility of the work, by doing IT, Its
accomplishment will be q great benefit to the conn
try as it will open road through the plain. avoid
ing several long leagues Of now difficult and tedoa
mountain road, TO the travel between Bogota and
the northern prOvin :es OF the republic.
From Simijaca we proceeded to the town Of Chi.
quinquira the site Of the celebrated shrine of tue
Virgin, where IS miraculous picture OF " Our Lady
OF Remedies, that has been for nearly three hun
cred years the object Of deep vcneration by the In
dian and mixed population of New Granada. The
time of our visit was Palm Sunday, when the church
was about twO-thirds filed with deyotees, thou.
sand or twelve hundred being present, mostly In
dams. The church is q very large and massive
building, belonging to the Order OF ST. Dominic, aud
its income ia said to be about seventy thousand dol
This almost pntrplV mo-
offerings, as the lower classes through very large
portion Of the re ublic make vows to the Virgin OF
Chiqunguira under all circumstances Of difficulty
or Distress The walks of the porch of the church
are covered with relations OF miracles performed
each relation being accompanied by its pictorial rep
resentation, for the benefit Of the large non.readng
class. The name of the person, place and date, as
well az character of the miracle given with
PuoIs ml'uteness, and from the TACT that nearly
al those cited were of recent occurreuce-the Oldest
miracle not being more than eight ten years back
inferred that the older from time time
removed to make room for the rapidly accommodating
instances OF miraculous intervention on the part OF
the Virgin.
The character of the miracles was of the most or
binary kind, rCcoveries from sickness being BY far
the most numerous-others were salvation from i'm
pending danger as being chased by mad bull, a
fall from horse, and one man in an open field
miraculously saved from flash Of lightning which
got into the crown of his hat but uprn his calling
upon the Virgin she conducted it out through the
side and rim, he receiving no other damage than
being knocked down III the process. In every in
stance the pictorial representation gives the full par
tculars the sick son stretched upon bed the pray
ing mother, and the picture of the Virgin in the air
or the PROSTATE man, the flashing lightning. the
goring bull, and the vicious horse suddenly tanned.
A crowd OF gaZers was continually gazing upon
them and listening to our reading Of the facts.
We sought the miracle working picture, and found
it in lsrgc shrine which formed the reverse OF the
great altar. 1t is miserable and appa. emily freshly
painted danb representing the Virgin, with saint
on either sike, the figures being nearly as large as
life The legend is, that in fifteen hundred and
eightysomething certain person in one Of the
northern provinces ordered picture OF "Our Virgin
OF Remedies" to be painted, which was done ac-
cordingly in very superior style. This picture
WAS made the altar piece of small church; but
the church got out OF repair, and the picture be-
come dilapidated and almost invisible. 1t was
finally thrown aside, until a poor woman, seeking
for a representation Of the Virgin. found it, but
sadly torn and soiled. She however erected small
altar OF bamboo in cattle pen, and set it mp, and
suddenly hlazed forth, to the establishment
OF all beholders-the head of the Virgin burned
with heavenly radiance, and the saints fea-
lures became lighted up to such degree that
the villagers rushed to the spot thinking the
houses were on fire. Since then it has preserved
its miracle working powers The legend does no
tell LIS When if ever, this radiance existed. but tn
picture certainly has none of it now. Such is tn
object Of almost universal alteration among tn
ignorant portion of the population OF New Granada
and their great reliance in time Of need.
1t is not improbable that the Roman Catho
church, with its ready adaptability to the super
stitions Of all nations has in this instance adopted.
in modified form, the ancient religion Of the ln
dians. or at least some renowned shrine that was
the object OF their vcneration. The ancient and
still existing name of the town-CbIqu inquira,
which means :" the City Of the Moon seems to
confirm this supposition. It may be that here her
affairs burned, and her priests offered prayers and
received offerings, as do the present ones, in the
name Of "Our Lady of Remedies and that the
Virgin has merely displaced an Indian Diana in
her shrine and in the hearts Of her votaries.
believe It would not be the first instance of the
KIND recorded in the page OF history. 4 rival mi
racle working Virgin has been gotten up some few
leagues from Chiquinqura, Of the village Of Legoa
but although she in said to do good business she
cannot equal her elder sister who st inds upon the
ancient altar of the moon.
A three days ride brought US back to Bogota,
pleased With our journey, and, trust, somewhat
wiser, but certainly with stronger faith in the in
sttutiOns of our own free land than when we left it.
BoGorA, April 3, 1855.
Political Condition and Prospects Of Nep Grand
d. Carth0gena Declared q Free PUrt--Am RI
can Enterprise Prosperity of the Industrial In
acknowledgements Increase in the Value of Land
in tie Tobacco Groacing Dissicts--I The Gold
Fields Of Antioquia-History Of the Political
Parties in the Republic-General Mosqusra--
Proposed Confederation Of the South American
States.
Wrote you, some days since, an account OF my
visit to the venerable rines of Muse and some other
noteworthy objects in this vicinity, and as have
now been here two months, during which time
have endcavored to study the political condition and
constitution of the country, few remarks upon it's
present state and future prospects may be OF some
interest to your readers.
will first mention in passing, law which has
just been passed by Congress, as it has very mark
ed influence up some extensive American interests
in New Granada, and may tend to large increase
Of intercourse with the United States. The city Of
Carthagena, with its beautiful harbor. which was
once the most important city in Spanish America,
having been at the same tue the headquarters Of
its naval forces in these waters and the coute Of its
richest commerce, has been declared free port and
oil goods imported there 70 be. from the LIST Of
O.. -. O. ~ 80