Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-28
NsTURE THE TROPICS.
A WtimingtOniaD's Pen sketch of
South with Many Della
ware Companions and Products
Tbe Disappointing ScpOritas.

Nbe Dis"ppofhhhs scborttaS.
From Honda, UDit.d d states Of
Colombia, Sou.b America. under date OF
January 18th, Edmuud Csnby who, with
his father, Major Samuel Canby, went 10
that place last summer, ard is there
engaged in constructing railroad, writes
the GAZETTE the letter, given below,
which will be found of much interest:
We left New York October 2lst on the
City of Para. OF our trip out from New
York and up the Magdelina IRON Barran-
quills, will only say that the later part
was rather monotopous. We made the
voyag on little stern vi heel steamer
that frequently broke down. There was
nothing to do hut eat and sleep, or sit on
deck and watch the never changing
luxurianoe of the tropical forests snd
undergrowth that line the shores on both
sides of the river for miles and miles.
The monotony of the tedious trip was
varied with an occasional shot at an slli-
gator or the laying of odds on how long
the steamer would run that day without
a break.
AS the river approaches Honda 1t gets
very rapid and narrow until within
three miles of the town, then 1t becomes
unuavigable on account Of the swiftness
of the current and the rocks, A mile
above here the good water begins again,
s.d is navigsble for over $50 miles more.
II was on account of the "Rspiis" that
the railroad on which We are now
engaged ia being built. T railroad is
named the "La Dorado" and is intended
to be about 80 miles long, so the boats
will have no rough water to encounter.
1t is a narrow gauge, three feet in width.
The cars for 1t were bui st the Harlan
Hollingsworth Company of Your city.
Wilmington is very we'll represented
here, and the names Of Wilmington
manufacturers are frequently seen. The
Pusey & Jones Company have two boats
plying on the river. A great deal of the
stuff for the miner and railroads comes
from England. l believe there are more
Wilmingtonlsns in this country than
from auy other city in the states. |
know OF eight or nine.
Honda Is, as the wood in Spanish signi-
fies, deep or low down in q valley close
by the river. In the time Of the old
Spsniards it was very large town, but
in 1920 an earthquake shook about two
thirds of it to pieces. Everywhere you
can see rnins of old houses, churches and
converts al moss grown and black with
age. The scenery is magnificent, but
will MOI attempt to describe IL, becanse, as
tbs books all say sit must be seen to be
"pyTeost-d," though any one who has
.ie puck 10 scramble up one of the
.rmerous "ioot hilis" that surround the
o~u, will he more than rewarded ior the
xertipu, by the views of the ranges upon
.aps,s of iuluutsips stretcbiHg away on
al a. ...a far MOI aas1 md nj
shapes and oolors from the deepest blue
10 e faint, misty, cloud like tint 80 miles
tistE.t
The t.rm, "The beautiful, black. eyed
span sh senoritss," may bs fitting, bEt
in my opinion it is sort of ''poetic
license" generally called "tatfy" in the
states. The American women will always
bs given the preference to any OF the 80
called Spanish besnties / have yet seen.
Honda is very pretty town, viewed
from distance. The houses are mostly
one story in height; built of stone and
have high peaked roofs covered with
brick tiles, or else matched with straw or
palm branches. 1t really looks quite
oriental.
On our trip up the river we stopped at
"Peccsto Bsrrio," where M. G. Conwell, q
former Wilmingtonian Is stationed. We
did not see Mr.. Conwell but called on his
son, James, who looked as if the climate
snited him to perfection. Two or three
Sundays ago we took a ride of about 20
miles up in the hills to a town where
great feast was going on. The ride was
the best part OF the trip. At first it was
a continual rise, then plateau for
sbout Is ciles, then more moantai1s
with sharp lsoents and desceA;-
then another plateau on which
the town was situsted. At
intervals ct four or f7e wi we
woulo come TO little HAM ous Oi 81, az
cane Or bananas where NJ. wouli 4tup-
watt the horses and r-tresn ourselves
! ~ 'ar cane and or4i ss Jlst picked
~. else we would be given coccanuts and
eat the contents with spoon. We ar
rived at the town about 80 p. M, a lit
tie too late to see much of the feast,
though We had the effects OF il all night
in the hslf.tipsy natives going around
twaDging their guitars and singing with
voices resembling a mixture between a
buzz saw and CROSS tom cat.
Al one of the ranches where we stopped
there were two rather pretty girls, aud as
we sat eating our ooooanuts my COM
psnons and myself discussed the claims
OF each to being considered beauty,
sloud in English They sat by evidently
trying to catch the meaning Of our to
them unknown iougue in blissful
ignorance that they were the subject OF
our remarks.
would like to tell you how we live in
camp, and of the queer things We have to
eat, bu, am afraid | have written toe
IN oh now, hut must say one thing more
for the benefit of your readers when they
feel cold and according to Puck cam
get their big ulsters from their unc e. ~
lave just looked at tn thermomst and
find it is $50 in the shade. Wouldn't dart
put it in the sup, bsosuse Thermometer
are very SCARCE here. Adios otra vaz