118  SELLING  LATIN  AMERICA

the  Magdalena  River,  which  is  1060  miles
long  with  a  swift  current,  and  navigable  to
Honda,  a  city  600  miles  from  Barranquilla
at  its  mouth.  A  marine  railway,  around  the
rapids  at  Honda,  allows  small  steamers  to  go
about  200  miles  above  this  inland  port.
Goods  intended  for  Bogota  usually  go  via  rail
from  Puerto  Colombia  to  Barranquilla,  a  distance ­
  of  about  sixteen  miles,  and  are  then  transferred ­
  to  the  stern  wheeler,  wood-burning,
river  steamers  for  all  the  world  like  those
which  navigate  the  Mississippi.  A  trip  from
Barranquilla  or  from  Cartagena  to  Bogota
takes  via  the  Magdalena  River  from  ten  to
fourteen  days,  according  to  the  stage  of  water
in  the  river  and  includes  steamboat,  railway
and  muleback  travel.  In  making  this  trip  the
traveler  is  advised  to  take  tinned  food  and  bottled ­
  mineral  water.
Travel  through  Colombia  at  best  is  difficult,
the  roads  are  bad  and  the  hotels  miserable.
Goods  intended  for  Bogota  have  six  trans-shipments ­
  from  the  ocean  to  their  destination—an
argument  for  good  packing.