New-York tribune., 1903-08-30

averages 80 degrees Fahrenheit and most OF the
Northern products found, fourishing amid
surprising Profusion Of tropical fruits and flowers
This mountain valley is douby interesting hav-
ing been the traditional heaven Of the Chibchas
the ancient people who inhabited this region in the
early dawn Of history. According to Queseda,
the tma OF the conquest Q530 the popu-
lation numbered about 10000 Here stood
their sacred city called Bo-cat-a; and the
present capital. which occupies nearly the same
site. evidently took its name from the older one
though the corrupted modern word has entirely
different sound. the accent being given the final
syllable. The Chibchas a curious race, and
around no spot in the two Americas are clustered
more wild stories and improbable traditions con-
cerning a vanished civilization OF their remoter
history the world knows absolutely nothing,
cept that they were an ancient and powerful people
when the Spaniards found them. three centuries
ago. given 10 agriculture and the peaceful arts
and with a government essentially patriarchaL The
study of Chibchan religion. from the shattered
OF tradition that remain is fasctnat ting
Their faith seems TO have been strange MKT
ure OF ancient Buddhism, modern theosophy and
Bible Christianity but included no senguinary sac
rihces like those that marked the rituals OF many
of the neghboring tribes Of Central and South
America. In Bohica, their elysiUm supposed 10
be literally located the high plateau, they had
a divine mediata deity of mercy. Like all Other
races. they had tradition of the flood and Il
character closely resembling the Hebrew Noah the
Greek Deucalion and the Mexican Cojcoj; and to
also in a spirit OF evil who was forever striving
10 get the better of the higher powers. with more
or less success Their god of science, as typlfled
by earthen images. was almost Identical with the
Buddhist god Of wisdom, represented in the idols
that to-day found in many Chinese temples,
while their Chibchacum facsimile Of the
Buddhist god Of agriculture.
The most splendid temple of the old Bocata,
consecrated 70 the god Of agriculture, stood near
the site Of the present grand cathedral. I'm the
centre of the modern capital. Thither twice every
year went emperor. his chief caciques and all
the royal retinue TO offer obations 10 the deity
who was believed to preside over the harvests, a
ceremony not unlike the moon feasts' that are
yet celebra many OF the interior districts OF
China The present inhabitants of the Bogota plain
totally different people from those in other
parts Of Colombia possessing deal more energy
and a disposition to keep within haihng distance
of the times. Here agriculture and the useful arts
are at least century ahead Of their practice in
the torrid valleys and along the burning coast
The wooden shovel and clumsy forked stick have
given place tc the iron spade and patent plough;
quIntas Garms) incosed with substantial walls Of
stone adobe. have spacious houses that wear an
air OF palatiaI elegance compared with the mud
and bamboo huts along the great rivers.
The old Bogota somehow presents an appearance
of unusual picturesqueness, though in land where
all things as quaint Egypt in the days
OF Moses It's narrow streets winding up hill and
down paved with the sharpest OF small stones.
that make pedestrians feel Ike penitential pilgrims
on the way 20 Mecca with peas in their shoes ana
in the middle Of each street is cut deep ditch
or channel through which the melted SHOWS of the
nearby mountains dance in noisy rivulets- Inc
city has population Of something over l0Ob.
and in many respects is modern. in others fully 20
years behind the times. Its whitewashed casas
mostly OF story, with projecting roofs OF
red tiles, and green-painted windows. lattced IKE
those OF prisons between whose bars one sees peer
ing eyes-the beautiful dark eyes OF Colombian
women fun OF wondering curiosity al sight Of
los estrangeres AmeTcanos. Though ouilt OF
adobe and unprep possessing in outside appearance.
there are many elegant homes IN Colombia capl-
raj. spacious and weu furnished The prevailing
style OF architecture IS. OF course that which the
Moors bequeathed 10 the earIt spaniards, every
house ike q fcrt its bare barE walls built hush
with the pavement. carefully c0nCraiing from tha
passerty every trace Of home life. while within are
bloom and beauty. sunshine and cAsertnlnsss.