The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-18
Our New Granada Correspondence.
MoMPos NEW GRANADA Sept 23 1856,


Description Of Mompos' the Queen CITY Of the River Magia
lend-is Hisory-Riuers Magdalend and Cduca-Steam
ers Route 20 Head Wdters-Sedon-Disea Intense
Heais-Productions Of New Granada, dc.
As promised you in my last communication from Ma
gangue, proceed TO give you Of this
famous old city, which ID situated in the department Of
the State Of Magdalena the e bank OF the river Mag
daena twenty miles the confluence OF the river
Cauca, in N lat deg 400 and W. long "a deg % 43
OF Greenwich.
It's typographical situation is somewhat singular; it
stands on Island formed by the confluence of the
rivers Cauca and Magdalena at Pinto and by a braso
arm OF the Cauca at Banco. II is distant one hun.
bred and miles by the river from Barranqula,
the whole free from distractions with deep water
the bed expansive that it than across in
the The distance from Pinto to Banco eighty
miles by the Cauca IL Is crcutous and may be computed
Ito miles. The dry with the beg mn ng
Of December and lasts ill the end Of March The river
lowest during the whole Of that period In those months
the Mompos route becomes shallow seldom % be
available for the navigation Of large Steamers and two
thirds Of the waters OF the Magdaena carried OF
Mompos through the Cano Iobo into the Cauca thus rob
bling Of it's waters the direct Mompos and
rcpcnshng that through the Cauca. On entering the
Cano Lobo, at distance q mile from the Magdalena
rock situated at mid channel forty to nty feet In dame
ter which al low water rises sax feet above the
surface.
In straight line Moupos distant 10 miles north from
the capital Hogota but by the road 1853 Spanish leagues
Of the principal for steamers plying on the
river Magdaena In former years Il described by
stewart as the only place the river where anything like
the hustle o. active human life and industry TO be
ound but since then arranqua "a description Of which
purpose giving you ~ my next has taken tue palm
from MI other cites both on the rivers and coast, for
commerce ana industry.
Unlike Magangue, MomIos ia a place Of steady and
increasing business has and large and
handsome private residences and noted for the number
ana extent Of rs churches and the Pantheon Temple ~
considered one a the most beautiful the country has
two public colleges and many schools but education
blank. The inhabitants hosptable and industrious,
and they passi0naey fond Of music. This city was
founded IN the year 1889 by Alfonso de Heredia Spa
niard Of note, and probably the same Hereda who
SIX years previously, had founded Carthagena. its
position central, aud Il enjoys an active commerce
with the adjacen, towns aud villages il noted for It's
suffering and heroic resistance the Independence
when Colombia was shaking on the yoke Of SPAN, and
which has earned for the title Of Cdod rdisrosa the
than any other 10 The country. For days and weeks
together the thermometer will stand at 100 de.
grecs Fahrenheit in the shade have dincd board
steamboat at r NJ in rontof the city, with the thor
mometer at lo5 degrees. An uninhabted island
wnst obs,ruc,s the view directly opposite the city.
The population might be calculated about 300 souls
the greatest proportion OF which are negroes indeed
suppose that the whole territory OF New Granada
the traveller VIII not see the almost real African negro to
greaer perfection than IN this city. There also good
proportion Of Creoles and Sambos and a tolerabe
| sprinkling Of whites. The most loathsome dis.
eases 81 the worst kind Turk in the blood "
the lower classes particularly amongst the blacks and
Of eprosy and appearance Of some OF these
wrefched Objects With their horrible looking wounds ~
disgusting IN the extreme the FOR are their
unccanlncse and neglect the intense hea, II the climate
bad food and water, and the snnoyasces Of vcrmnas
mosquitoes and flies, Of different kinds torment them day
and night Country fevers called calsntros prove very
fatal here The Changes OF seasons and strangers
almost sure 70 be attacked, and the medical profession Is
sadly neglected one. There many wealthy inhabi.
tants but lately many have left for reason Of the
curty a fe and property In times Of violent outbreaks
on tie part of the mob Political revolutions also fire.
| quently occur.
The market Of Mompos wei supplied with meat fish
and vegetables, and all kinds Of tropical fruits The FISH,
though, ~ the river Magdalcns like all other rivers
atcd the tropics, very Indifferent totally without
flavor and the beef " poor and tough From the colder
regions OF OcaBa are brought potatoes aud onions The
oranges 81 Nargara, place to this, noted for
their delicious flavor and certainly superior any
have tasted IN the South Of Europe purchase
hundred for real 90 cents) and for half real an
enormous pineapple ~ several pounds in weight