. The earth and its inhabitants ... ield frequented by theChibcha, Guanes, and Agataes Indians. From this point the i-oute ascendswestwards to the pleasant little town of Jesus Maria, and northwards to the cityof Velez (7,190 feet), founded in 1539 in an important strategical position nearthe divide between the upper Sogamoso basin and the Carare and Open river TOPOGEAPHY OF COLOMBIA. 193 valleys. Despite the difficult approaches Yelez has prospered, and is now scarcely-inferior in size to the capital of the province. Near JLa Paz, 12 miles farthernorth, occurs the curious Hoi/o del Aire ( Air
. The earth and its inhabitants ... ield frequented by theChibcha, Guanes, and Agataes Indians. From this point the i-oute ascendswestwards to the pleasant little town of Jesus Maria, and northwards to the cityof Velez (7,190 feet), founded in 1539 in an important strategical position nearthe divide between the upper Sogamoso basin and the Carare and Open river TOPOGEAPHY OF COLOMBIA. 193 valleys. Despite the difficult approaches Yelez has prospered, and is now scarcely-inferior in size to the capital of the province. Near JLa Paz, 12 miles farthernorth, occurs the curious Hoi/o del Aire ( Air-Hole ), a pit 390 feet deep andover half a mile round, which appears to have been formed by the surface stratasinking into underground chasms. Socorro, capital of Santander, lies at a height of 4,120 feet, on a slopingterrace rising in steep escarpments above the Suarez, which flows 2,000 feetbelow. Socorro, which was removed in 1681 to its present unhealthy position Fig. 73.—Chiquinquiea and Lake op 1 : 280, ; • ••% , h 74-14 nest oF Greenwich 74°4- 6 Miles. from the site of the old Indian settlement of Guame, is one of the chief cities ofthe republic. Here began the revolutionary movement in 1781, when Maria-An tonia Vargas broke the royal escutcheon, tore down the edict proclaimingfresh taxes, and rallied to the standard of revolt the first band of comuneros,forgotten precursors of the Bolivars, Sucres, Santanders, and other heroes of theWar of Independence. South-west of Socorro a less elevated terrace is occupied by Simacota, whichwas long famous for its so-called volcano, the smoke of which, rising above aneighbouring gorge, is caused by a mass of coal and pyrites in a state of com-bustion. Farther north the Suarez is joined below Socorro by the Rio Sanjil,14 194 SOUTH AMEEICA—THE ANDES EEGIONS. whicli takes its name from the industrial town of Savjil {Sail Gil), where aremanufactured coarse fabrics, hammocks, and agricultural implemen
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectgeography, bookyear18
