Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-30

| passed the range Of hills and then a
small valley and then began TO ascend
the mountain ! viii not describe the
road here but will wait until | have
seen the balance of II.
THE MAGDALENA VALLEY,
We wound along the side OF the
mountain for several miles and then
turned zigzarlng up the face Of IL
towards the top, From the summit
obtained q magnificent view of the
country. The rain the night before had
cleared the atmosphere and | could see
clearly in every direction, For 200
miles or more could see the great val
ley Of the Magdalena with the tawny
river winding through Il. Beyond It
for more than 800 miles / could trace
distinctly the great mountain mass OF
the Central COrdllcras It's snowy peaks
only. hid I'm clouds Near the base Of
the mountains there seems TO be space
comparatively free from hills but on
the west side Of the river the valley APP
pears cut up with ranges OF low hills
From Honda for 80 or rs miles south
a ridge Of hills parallels the river and
hugs IFS banks closely, back Of this the
hills run mostly from southwest TO
northeast. Tie plains west Of Honda
are more extensive than / had sup
poscd. on the east side OF the river
the Wiley seems freer from hills The
range on which ! stand drops down
some from where stand and up beyond
the Guaduas valley joins the range that
encloses the Bogota valley The de-
scent TO the Guaduas valley is not very
far or difficult The valley Is an eX-
Tension Of the canyon of the Rio Negro
which opens out here. | don't think
Il can be over four miles wide by prob
ably 10 long, but the mountain slopes
are not steep and all over them are
scattered thatch roof bamboo cottages
surrounded by little patches Of cultivat-
ed ground. The town lies ON the east
slope and Is another typical old Spanish
town of considerable Importance In the
olden days but falling to ruins now.
COULD BE MADE A PARADISE.
wanted to see if the valley answer.
ed all of the requirements of the Book
Of Mormon for the valley Of Gideon
and have spent week walking all over
It. 70 the south II rises gently TO the
summit from which point there Is an
easy slope to the Magdalena river prob
ably IL or 10 miles distant, II is not
over 10 miles from the valley proper to
the river. Most OF the valley and sur
rounding slopes are covered with grass
If the valley anciently was the site
Of a city Il is probable the houses would
be built along the little streams where
the people would have easy access TO
water | have therefore devoted most
Of my time to examining the fields
near the creeks. | have found a num-
Der Of mounds which / feel positive
We're In part artificial and which were
undoubtedly sites of houses constructed
Of sun-dried brick. on the sides of
some Of these, the rain had worn out
gulies six or eight feet deep On the
slopes Of these | dug out pieces OF old
pottery two or three feet below the
surface The people here often find old
grinders and stone implements Of an
Gent Workmanship there abouts. / do
not think there was ever much Of a
city here IN Nephite times. Still the
valley could support large population.
There are 5000 people in the valley
today and do not believe there Is an
acre over 100 acres under cultivation,
Plantins and meat are the principal
articles Of food An acre of plantins
will feed 40 persons The grassy slopes
would afford pasturage for hundreds
of thousands OF sheep and cattle but
IN al my wanderings ! have seen no