Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-30

| Va SAioSoht oDSes oAA
| hours ride from ZIpaquira; and Sepo was
| dimly discernlble few miles to the right,
| village made famous by one feeble and
| crippled girl, who does the most wonderful
wood carving, representing the people,
birds, beasts, and characteristics scenes OF
Colombia.
sHRINEIN THE MOUNTAINS HEART.
Inside the mine. we followed a cartroad
| to higher and higher levels. instead of de-
scending. as in other mines. The walls were
supported by solid columns of salt; salt
eyervwhere around above hollow ro1bino
but salt. Somebody spoke of Lots wife.
and another quoted the Scriptural passage,
''If the salt hath lost its SAVIOR. wherewith
shall it be salted?" The superintendent in.
formed us that this stupendous mountain of
salt must have been formed by the ocean,
which, in prehistoric ages, washed over the
place where we were standing, but whether
biologists will agree with him, 1 canuot
say. In some places the salt was white as
snow, and sparkled like diamonds, but as
rule it was dirty slate color.
Away up in the heart of the mountain.
where tne ar was close 10 oppression ana
before ia iittls chonsi boiInwad on, ra nf
solid calf in which is or ;n,.e,a or tbe W..
gin. surrounded bv tall crosses Night and
day from wear tn ye.r candlae orc alwayy
kent hnrninc in front of tbis stronoe Sbr;ne
and miners never fail In saw their nrovers
here on entering the mine. fnIIv beIieviup
that this alone saves them from falling into
the clutches of the evil rnirits of the nonn-
tain. We brought awov some crvst,Ia from
the river and some coaeulated drops OF salt
from the works. that had fallen ont of the
kettles and formed themselves into the most
curious shapes, like frozen snow, to put be-
side some equally strange formations which
1 obtained last year from the Great Salt
Lake in Utah.
Zipaquira is a charming little village.
celebrated ior its lovely gardens and fiowery
patios, especially for its orchids and pansies.
The last-named favorites are politically
called pensamientos (thoughts) reminding
one of Ophelia's words, 'Here's pansies,
for thoughts Juratena, the uuinta at
which we were entertained, is shut in among
the hills. That you may understand some
thing of domestic life among well-to-do
country people of Colombia, let me recount
one days experience in this hospitable
home.
AnAv,s po1rr,yr
having slept soundly under the straw
ROOF, IN nttie IRON Dedsteads eurtained with
"hite muslin sleo Win PINK rlooons, we
song OF DiacKDlrds ana the twltterlng OF
colony OF cacaracneros Whlch make their
nests unuer tne oyerhanglng thatch. Evl-
eently q someoooy nao oeen listening for the
nrst sound OF our voices, Tor the instant we
were awake tne hostess came IN bringing
tne usual desaguno In the shape OF tea,
bread and arepa-cake and to inform US that,
being IN the country, breakfast would be
served at tne extremely early hour OF 9:3O
instead OF at noon, as IN the city.
When finally summoned to that meal, the
good sonora went IN ahead, carrying large
ola, or earthenware jug, OF soup just off
the tlre. 1t was made OF hot water and
beaten eggs. with plenty of butter, favored
with iennei and parsley, hard-bolled eggs
put In whole. Next cold boiled mutton
was served, with bit of cold turkey and
MI. 49, pJ;" seu on e"cH Piale:
used for salads, which is sometimes called
vegetable butter" Then cheese. arepa-
cake and the weakest of tea. We NAV re-
mark, en- passant, that the Colombians
seem have no idea how to make tea and
drink 1t mostly as medicine. The cheese
is not at all like that found in the United
States. but is white as paper and nuite as
tough and tasteless. Arena cake is made
of crushed corn and water without salt or
soda. baked on a priddle or in the ashes and
unlike Mexican tortilla.
After breakfast the time was beou;1ed bv
gathering flowers along the banks of the
river visiting the MICS and nouItrv and
viewing the few 'tsiebts'' of the town At
$3.50 dinner was announced. This is the