Letters Written from Colombia During a Journey from Caracas to Bogota and Thence to Santa Martha in 1823 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824 Excerpt: ... conquered by Don Diego Losada, who founded the city in 1567. During our stay here the climate was most delightful, the maximum of heat jiot exceeding 75, and the mornings and evenings sufficiently cool to make additional clothing agreeable. Fruits of various kinds are very abundant and delicious. A beautiful panorama of the vale and town of Caracas, might be taken from the ruins of an old hospital, situated on a gentle rise near the foot of the Silla. This vale, formerly so celebrated for its great fertility and the value of its productions, is pow, with the exception of a few Haciendas, much neglected; but it would be unfair from this circumstance to judge of the people's disposition to industry, for in no part of the Republic are they more distinguished for agricultural activity; the cause may very justly be assigned to the desolating and long protracted war, in which they have struggled for, and at length obtained their independence. My next letter will probably give some account of our progress towards Bogota: as a favourable opportunity presents itself of forwarding this to Europe, I will not detain it for further particulars. Estates. TOCUYO, nth March. I intend to be faithful to my promise by informing you from time to time of our progress--the aspect of the country--its inhabitants--manners--customs--and general state of affairs. Although I feel and lament my incompetency to delineate these objects with the force they deserve, to convey any thing like an adequate idea of the grandeur and sublimity of the scenery--general fertility of the soil--its productions, spontaneous, and such as result from cultivation--both for want of the necessary information, and from my very recent acquaintance with this quarter of the globe, I will endeavour to impart ...