. The earth and its inhabitants ... se feet are wellprotected by a fluffy white down, penetrates as far as the bleak paramos. Buthigh above the loftiest summits soars the huitre, or king vulture {sarcoramplmsfapci), a superb yet repulsive creature, decked in gaudy colours, who swoopsdown from the depths of the heavens on the fallen quarry, and gorges on thechoice parts, encircled by eagles, carrion hawks, and other birds of prey respect-fully awaiting the end of the royal banquet. Certain restricted zones can be explained neither by altitude nor by any specialconditions of soil or climate. Thu
. The earth and its inhabitants ... se feet are wellprotected by a fluffy white down, penetrates as far as the bleak paramos. Buthigh above the loftiest summits soars the huitre, or king vulture {sarcoramplmsfapci), a superb yet repulsive creature, decked in gaudy colours, who swoopsdown from the depths of the heavens on the fallen quarry, and gorges on thechoice parts, encircled by eagles, carrion hawks, and other birds of prey respect-fully awaiting the end of the royal banquet. Certain restricted zones can be explained neither by altitude nor by any specialconditions of soil or climate. Thus the domain of the mosquito is abruptly limitedin the districts of Villanueva and other villages of the TJpar Valley, where there isnevertheless no lack of marshy waters. On leaving the village the traveller seesdense clouds whirling in the air, but always stopping short of a certain treeor some such landmark, beyond which he need not fear their attack. Despite the heavj»- rainfall and vast woodlands, certain regions are at times. MUYSCA INDIANS, ADOKNED WITH ANTIQUE JEWELLERY. INHABITANTS OP COLOMBIA. 169 invaded by hosts of locusts, as in 1825, when the Cauca valley was wasted ; not ablade of grass was left for the cattle, sheep, and goats, which were driven to devourthe grubs and young locusts. Pigs and poultry also surfeited on the same food,so that milk, eggs, meat, everything acquired a sickening flavour of musk, andreeked of grasshopper. Inhahitants of present Colombians descend, for the most part, from the Indian peoplesoccupying the land at the advent of the Spaniards towards the middle of thesixteenth century. How the natives were treated by the ruthless Conquistadoresis a twice-told tale of savage massacres and frightful atrocities. Wholesalebutcheries, dire oppression, epidemics, and especially weariness of life, swept awayhundreds of thousands. The adelantado Jimenez de Quesada, the same who hadconquered the plateau, testified thirty-nine years after
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectgeography, bookyear18
