The Cabiai or river-hog is found in considerable numbers in all the rivulets and brooks.' It is an am phibious animal, of delicious flavour when young, weighs about 150 lbs., is gregarious, and sometimes met with in large herds. It takes to the water for safety from its pursuers ; but as it must frequently rise to the surface to breathe, it is easily taken by the natives, who are accustomed to, and fond of, the sport.
Alligators are very numerous in all the rivers of the plains, but more especially abound in the River Magdalena. One species of them grows to the length of 20 feet. The other kind is smaller, is sel dom found in running streams, but inhabits lakes and stagnant waters ; it will seldom attack a man unless provoked by excessive hunger, or in a situa tion in which it has no resource but fighting. A third kind is still more harmless, being quite tame, and it is not unfrequent to see persons bathing in the river with 'this species of alligator swimming near them.
The animal called by the Spanish Americans Ma ned, and by the French naturalists Lamantin, is found in the lakes and rushy pools of the warm cli mate. It is said to feed only on grass, and its flesh is reported to be of most delicious flavour, equalling in tenderness that of a Iamb or a sucking pig, and not unlike the latter in taste. They are very abun dant in the lakes of Zapatosa, in the river Sinu, and in the various streams which contribute to the Ori noco. During the inundations these animals are spread over the whole country. As the inunda tions subside, the natives erect stockades at the passages by which the waters return to their re gular rhannAl, and take great quantities of them. Some of them are 800 pounds weight, and, when first produced, weigh about SO pounds. The fish ery for this amphibious animal is of vast import ance to the inhabitants, who feed on its flesh, and convert its skin to several useful purposes, but especially to horse-whips, for which it is admirably adapted. It is well known that the ruder inhabit ants of warm climates esteem the iguana a delicious food; its description is familiar, but there is a species in New Granada of a dark colour, with white spots, the size of a water-dog. These, unlike the others, never ascend the trees, but, in running about, make a rustling on the decayed leaves, and utter cries somewhat resembling those of a tiger, to the great alarm of those unaccustomed to the sound.
The birds of this region are very numerous, with plumage of the most brilliant and beautiful colours. The condour, or bustard of America, is a bird of great strength, sometimes eighteen feet from the ex tremity of wing to wing when extended. It is to be found in all the climates of South America, but makes its nest only in the high and cold regions, in the concavities of rocks covered with thorny plants, where it is inaccessible to man. It is fierce, and frequently commits depredations on the smaller kinds of animals. Migratory ducks, of very large size, and in innumerable flocks, make their appear ance on the lakes in the months of January, Febru. my, and March. The natives who wish to take them float a great number of calabashes on the sur face of the lakes they frequent, till the birds become familiarized to them. Men with calabashes on their heads, level with the water, then go into the pools, and the ducks permit their approach sufficiently near to seize them by the feet, and draw them un der water. This they do without disturbing the flock, who are thus caught in very great numbers. The turbid state of the water in these pools is a very great assistant to the sportsmen in the taking this species of wild fowl. Another species of these ducks, migratory likewise, but in smaller numbers, is found of a beautiful rose colour, which are more highly valued as food by the natives than the others.
They have a bird which, for its curious instinct, deserves to be noticed. It is called the Trumpeter by the Spaniards, and Agami by the Indians. It is easily domesticated, and taught to act as a guide and protector of the other poultry. It will lead the
turkies, parrots, and other fowls, to the fields to feed in the morning, conduct them home in the even ing, and during the day give notice of the approach of any noxious animal, by the peculiar sounds from which it has obtained its name.
New Granada, though inferior in the quantity of the precious metals yielded by its mines to Mexico and Peru, is known to abound with all the mineral wealth which those two countries possess. Gold mines have been found in the mountains of GUIIMCM co and Antioquia; but they are very slightly work ed, and produce but little. The far greater part of the gold is obtained by washing the sand which is brought down by the torrents from the mountains. The washing places for gold (lavaderos) are to the westward of the central range of the Andes, in the provinces of Antioquia and Choco, in the valley of the river Cauca, and in the department of Barbacoa, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. All the gold found in the viceroyalty is directed to be coined either in the mint at Santa Fe, or in that of Popayan. On an average of seven years, the quantity coined in both places amounted to about 7700 marks annually, or 61,600 ounces, worth L.240,000 Sterling. Of late years, the quantity has increased, and is stated to be nearly doubled. The province of Antioquia, whose entrance is impracticable for wheel carriages, and even for horses, contains very rich veins of gold, in micaceous slate, at Buritoca, San Pedro, and Armos ; but, for want of hands, they are not yet worked. In the alluvial grounds of Santa Rosa, and in the valley of Orsos, the washing is performed by the labour of negro slaves ; who, between the year 1770 and 1778, were increased from 1462 to 4896 individuals. None of the gold found in America is of the purest quality ; that of Antioquia is of the fineness of 19 to 20 carats, of Barbacoas, 211 carats, Inderperdu, 22 carats, and of Giron 23 carats. At Marmato, to the west of the river Cauca, a whitish gold is procured, which does not exceed 12 or IS carats fine, and which is mixed with silver. It is the true electrum of the ancients. In Choco, the richest river in gold is the Andageda, which, with two other streams, forms the great river Atrato. All the ground between the Andageda, the San Juan, and the Tamana, is auriferous. The lar gest lump of gold ever found in Choco weighed 2.5 pounds. The negro, who discovered it, did not, as was usual, and therefore expected, obtain his manu mission. The master presented it to the royal cabi net of Spain, expecting to be rewarded with a title of Castile, the great object of desire to all the rich Creoles. He was, however, disappointed, and with difficulty obtained payment of its value. There are no other bounds to the finding of gold in Choco than that arising from the scarcity of labourers, which may be attributed to the neglect of agriculture ; for the roads are too bad to admit of much foreign inter course, and the inhabitants too intent on finding gold to apply to other labour, which, with patience and perseverance, would be more surely, and more ex tensively beneficial to them. New Granada possesses several rich mines of silver, but they are not worked to any great extent. About sixteen years ago, some rich veins were discovered at Vega de Supia, between the Cerro de Tacon, and the Cerro de Marmato. The operations were stopped by a lawsuit between the different proprietors, at the very moment the mine began to be productive. The working of the mines of Santa Anna, near Mariquita, and those of Pamplona, which had been suspended, was resumed a few years ago, and found to be very productive in silver ore, lying in beds of gneiss. The mine of Manta has been stopped by order of government, to prevent the ruin which threatened the numerous pro prietors who were engaged in it. The expences were enormous, and though the ore contained six ounces of silver in each quintal, it afforded no prospect of reimbursing the expences of those who had embark ed the capital in this hazardous enterprise.