where in a city of 150,000 inhabitants. Fortunately, Major Heimke,
the American Charge d'Affaires, most hospitably came to the rescue,
opened the legation to us and gave his two undesirable fellow-citizens
a room. After lunch at a neighbouring cafe, we spent the rest of the
day reading the letters that had been accumulating since December.
April 28th. After four months of dirt and fihh, it is very com-
fortable to be in a carefully dusted house, free from insects. No
house ever seemed so clean as the legation, nor has civilized food
ever tasted so good. It appears that Bogota is really full of visitors,
as the National Assembly or Congress is now in session. The hotels



FROM THE BRIDGE OF BOYACA TO BOGOTA 233

are very small, even the Frese has only eight or nine rooms. Bogota
is not accustomed to taking care of many travellers at one time.
April 2gth. We paid off the negroes today, and sent them home.
None of us seemed particularly sorry at the parting.
