The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-23
THE CARIBBEAN COAST.
PERPLxXING DELAYS OF TRAPEL
FROM POINT TO POINT.
The Old Seaport of Carthageua, Its High
Wall Erected in the Time OF Philip IL.
Tall Towers and Grand Cathedrais.

Rv w. L. Scruggs, ex-United States Minis
fer TO Venezuela and the United States
OF Colombia.
l have already intimated, in a former pa
per that if we would the best part or
Colombia we must undergo the fatigue and
hardShips of a long and tedious Journey 10
the remote interior OF the country.
From the isthmus to the national capltai
there are but two available routes, heltner
of which however, is very pleasant or
agreeable One of these is down the SCUM
Pacific coast, by ocean steamer, TO bueila-
ventura; thence by rail some seventy rhleS
through mountain gorSeS 10 the oiu TOWN.
of Cali, in the great valley of the Cauca'
and thence overland across the central Cor
delera some three weeks journey on NIUE
back. to the great altaplane of Bogota The
entire Journey can hardly be made In less
than a month.
The other route is by ocean steamer up
the old Spanish main. on the Caribbean sea-
TO the Magrlalena river: thence up that NV
er by steamer, some SIX hundred mics or
more. TO Honda; thence three days by mule
over the eastern Cordelleras to the western
edge of the great altaplane, and thence
across the plane some thirty miles III omni-
bus or coach to the national capital. The
entire journey will require from TWO TO
three weeks and maybe longer
The route last named is the one of usual
travel The other is seldom chosen except
from necessity. when the river happens 10
be blockaded by belligerents in times Of
revolution" But even the river route,
though quite Il national thoroughfare, is
rarely chosen for pleasure. Til" accommo-
cations are bad, and there are many VeXa-
lious delays at intermediate points. First,
there will be delays at CarthaSena, where
the vessel has to make the circuit of
cape some twenty miles long, i'll order to
get into port and then be detained from one
TO two days in exchanging cargo and pass
eugers and in undergoing the elaborate for
maIities of the old Spanish common law in
effeCting a clearance. Next there Will be
delays in DISSEMINATING at Savanilla and
likewise IN the passage thence by ran 10
Barranquilla Then there viii be the usual
delays DIT Barranquilia The river steam
er5 have regular schedules, but seldom tol-
low them. Aud if they did, you would
probably arrive day late. and have to
wait five o. six days FOR the next steamer
There are frequent delays on the river also
The water is generally too low or too high:
ard when This Is not the case, the chance
OF accident or break down somewhere on
the way is rs about one to three. Finally,
at Honda there is usually delay OF from
one to two days in securing good mules
ana in making other necessary preparations
for the mountain trip.
Under the most Favorable conditions the
entire journey from Panama to BOgota, by
this shortest and most available route can
hardly be made as l have said, under two
weeks. and it some times takes three and
four. 1t will depend on SO many conditions
and unexpected circumstances that you can
never make any definite or even approXi-
mate calculation as to the time you may
reach your destination. The best thing to do
is to cultivate the virtue of patience and
take little note of time
From Colon to Cartharena the sailing dis
lance is about twenty-six hours; and from
Carthagena to the harbor of Savanilla it is
about six hours more. If desirable. you
may disembark at Carthagena and take a