CHAPTER IX INLAND COMMtJNICATION AND TR.\NSPORT ONE

CHAPTER IX
INLAND COMMtJNICATION AND TR.\NSPORT
ONE oí tbe grcatcst needs oí Colombia, if nol indeed Ihe
greatest nf alt, is tite provision oí facilities for inland
traílle. Not only is a large part oí the country still
practcally unexplored, but even dtstncts whLch are
comparatively, densely populaed are oftcn left in strange
isolation owing to the lack oí railroads and highways.
It is this fact that makes traveUing in the Republic
slow and eostly, and the transpofl oí goods a malter oí
scrious eoncern. No doubt the conñguration oí this very
mountainous country with its deep valleys and rolluig
llanos, explains much oí the present condition oí affairs,
hecanse thc engineering and financial problems to be
overcome are considerable. Nevertheless it vil1 be
found, especially, whcn the railroads and bighways oí the
country are being examined, that past political history
has had much to do with both tite deeds oí commission
and omissiori with the new era, thercfore, WC may
justly ook for greater wisdorn and swifter progress.
Vc hayo already dealt vith certain provisions for
inland navigation, and meagre though these be, it vill
be found diaL the river system p1ays an almost predominant part in traffic possibilities when the country is
viewed as a whole.
Tu regard Lo river traffic' flie MAGDALENA stands pre.
eminent. In its course oí about 1,060 miles (oí wldcli
930 are navigable), it traverses near]y threc-fourths oí
74
r
¿
¡
7.
r
COMM UNTCATJON AND TRANSPORT 75
tite central pan oí the Republic, and bv mcans oí as
tribularies taps rrian' ni the most thickl y ponulated
of tite agricultural aud industrial regions Unfortunately,
although the fourth largest nver in South Arnerica, it
partakes fur long 5tretches tire character oí a mountain
stream Rroadly speaking, the river is navigable ínr'
larg e steamers froni thc Atlantic aLmost np tu Florida,
Í1 distance oí about 1,000 kitomtr ps for small steamers
Irozn aboy e Honda tú Neiva for hoats and raíts ap
tú the confluence of tite Paez. As a maiter oí fact,
however, ihere are numeroas obstacies tu be met with.
Much dredging ami rectification oí hanks are required
in dic lower reaches before large steamers can enjoy a
free and casy course aH the ycar round Real difflculties
begin al Honda, just aboye which are the celebrated
Fali and Rapids oí that name. These canse most oí
the steamers tu anchor a shori distancc below tite pon.
For up-country traffic this stoppage generallv takes
place ,u La Dorada, where there isa short railway running
to Honda and then cm to Arnbalema By using this
railway passengers avoid dic Falis of Honda and the
narrow straits of Colombairna, where the river races
beiween high rocky cliffs. At Ambalema passeiigers
and goods once more join tite river, a short distance by
small steamer being traversed before reaching Girardot,'
where the railway to Bogotá begins. The steamers
continue np tú Neiva, and then furthcr progrcss must
be made by canoes, nr the peculiar raft-hoats known as
Clzampans. On tite banks oí tite Magdalena are numerous
pons, sorne little more than vharfs arid warehouses.
The rivcr has also many tributaries. Soun afta leavirtg
76
COLOMBIA
Barranquilla oit the south bank is Calamar, the river
port and railhead oí the Cartagena railway. Just aboye,
oit tite north bank, is Heredia, an important collecting
depot oí the rich agricultura[ Magdalena plains. Higher
up, oit the south bank, is the mouth of the Cauca. A
regular service of steamers ply up (he river from Barranquilla Lo Valdivia; alzo up a tributary oí the Cauca, the
Nechi, as far as Zaragoza. The Cauca is tased on many
'oí its stretches by both steamers and rafts, assisting in
traffic between such towns as Cali and Cartago, but the
bed is ¡it marty parts impassable owing to falis and rocks.
Returning to the Magdalena sve fluid on its noflhi bank
the river cesar, which aflords a watenvay through fertile
regions (o (he Valle Dupar and (he Goajira Peninsu.la.
Here is alzo tite mouth oí tite partly navigable Lebrija,
which runs south-east, steamers going as far as Estación
Santander, chan;frans continuing the voyage (o Puerto
Santos, where tite pack-mule trai] comrnences. Other
tributaries use! tU as collecting and distributing channeis
are the Opon and Carare, opening up the country cf
Santander; the Sogamoso, tapping Santander and
Boyacá and thc Nare, travcrsing part oí Antioquia. To
return once more to (he main stream oí (he Magdalena,
Jesus del Rio and Zambrano are important as the coifee
and tobacco depots oí Bolivar;oíMagangué is the gateway
Lo the cattle-raising plains
Coroza]. From Puerto
Wilches a railway is under construction to Bucaramanga,
which district is also served b y La Gloria, Bodega de
Carmen, and Bodega del Sur. Froat Puerto Berrio a
railway runs south-west to La Quiebra and is being
continued (o Medellin.
COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORT 77
It has already been said (hat tite navigation oí thc
Magdalena is b y no means easy, this is due to sandbanks, rocks, and at certain seasons lack oí water.
Conseqtiendy che service is apt te he slow and sornewhat
irregular, moreover, jt is extrernely expensive owing to che
frequcnt transhiprncnts In ms repon. te che Board of
'Frade, Mr. G. T. Mime says " \Vith a vjew to trnprovil1g
conditions a canalisation tax is imposed en both exports
and imports, the product being applied te the acquisition
anci upkcep oí dredges." The work is carried out uncler
11w dírection oí the Minister oí Public \Vorks and a
Canal;sation Board. According to a recent decree the
tax is as foliows- Dollars &o)d
per ter.
On irnports of general nerchandise ..
.. 4 5
On nat:oital rnnuiactu res Uj: corsunption
.
in thc country.
.. 2 10
On nat:onal manufactures ter exportQn sa wn nr squn rt" d ti 1.1 x-r siip,a r, rubber
rntnerals, lucios. ccffec. cucea artd s'ilt . . 1.60
061)
Qn rhnber in ogs, and ñbres
.
.
In 1912 this tax yielded about 117,000 dollars gold.
un an impon cargo oí 41,500 tons and an expon cargo
oí 53,300 tons. Mr. Mdne adds " \Vhi]e thc Canalisat ion
Board probabl y does something to ixnprove navigation,
to deal eíieetivel y with the problem (which is stated te be
getting more serioits ever y year o\ving tu the dimirnshed
amount of water in the rivers through deforestation)
tcchnical advice oí the best kind available would be
necessary, with presurnably 11w expenditure oí very
large surus of money. At prcscnt canalisation works
en an extensive sede rnight prove to be be ycad the
country's resources, alchough a loan, secured en tite
78
COLOMBIA
reveR tic derived frorn tie tax and expended by responsible
foreign erigineers and contractors, might greatly improve
existing eonditions. The first essential would be a
thorough investigation oí the prob!em by a competent
engineer. Ii bis report should be favourable lo expenditure a loan could presumably be arranged on condition
thaI the collection oí the tax by the lending house tras
satisiactorily provided for In -he event oí the necessary
works being deemed beyond the country's resources, the
only solution oí the difñcnity would seem to he br the
Gover-nment to assist such railway enterprises as wou]d
tend lo facilitate communication betwcen the littoraj
and the interior. Eventually a trunk une, linking up
existing and projected railways, ma)' cross thc country
from ocean to ocean; but it scems improbable that a work
oí Ihis magnitude will be undertaken in the near future."
Before discussing Ibis and other aspects of the radway
problern we must say a kw words about the steamboat
accommodation in the Magdalena, and also on the other
navigable waterway systems of the Republic. That
such facilities as the Magdalena offers should largely
monopolise attention is explained when WC realise thaI
elose upon SO per ccnt. of tite value oí imports, and over
60 per cent. oí the exports pass through the Customs
of Barranquilla and Cartagena, and as on]y a small
proportion oí these gonds remain in the two eities, or
are distributed in their neighhourhoods by rail or carts,
or transhipped to Santa Marta, it is clear what a preponderating part this river plavs in the business life oí
the country. While tliere is a fair arnount oí competition
in the provision oí stearnboat service, the two teading
COMMUNTCATJON AND TRANSPORT 79
organisatlons are a local corupany, thc Empresa Hanseatica, anci an English cornpanv, the Empresa Aijadas,
both of which are managed by Colombian fu-ms. The
Hanseatica has a flect oí seven steamers oí 1,269 tons in
aH. aud the Aliadas twenty-nine steamers oí over 6,000
tons. These steamers, and tbnse oí ther owners, are
r. drawing little water and
flat-bottorned sterr.designed on the Unes oí tite American nver steamboats.
A weekly exprcss mail service to Bogotá, and iiiterniediate services, are tun b y tite Aliadas for a monhly
Govern:nent subsidy oí £1.000. Passenger rates and
cargo freights are on a taníf approved by the Government,
rebates being aUowed oit certain classes oí goods. Thus
tite charge kw carriage oí general merchandise from
Puerto Colombia to La Dorado, thence over rail to
Arranca Plumas, thcn by river, and again by rail to
Bogotá k about £12 per ton, caiculated thus ¡it goid
dollars per tonRa u Ivay- tr',uh t - Puerto Coloni hia to Barrancpulla
-.
Ruverfriglit. Bru-ranqudb lo La Dorado Sundrv charges Man:ícst and Starnps
-
Loadmg nw-r steanii
--
CM,t1 isat ¡ori La x
-
- -
-
Cus:oms dcspa:ch
-
-
-
Cartage
- -
-
Cornniissio:i
- -
-
-
Through ircight, La Dor3do-r3ogoá
--
263
140
1 60
60
'20
20
10
1 20
25 :33
58i38
The through rates from Cartagena are thc sanie. It
should he noted that there is a rebate oí 23 per ceiit. on
the nver freights for agricultural and mining machinery,
80
COLOMBIA
tcols and wire netting, and 50 per cent. on railway
material.
Mention has already been made oí the CAUCA, which
taps part oí Bolivar, Antioquia, Caldas, El Valle asid
Cauca. It is navigable frorn the Magdalena, near
Magangué, to Rio Nuevo but tbence tú the city oí
Antioquía the river is irnpassable. Abo ye that thcre is a
considerable reach oí fair waterway, a busy traffic bcing
kept up from a little abo ye Cali and rather beyond
Cartago. The Neehi and ather tributaries bring addi.
tional traffic to this river, giving access to districts lying
eastward.
Dic SINU, draining the low-Iying cattle aud sugar
plantation lands oí western Bolivar, is open to steamers
from the Gulf oí Cispata to Monteria.
Going west, there is thc Atrato, failing hito the GUJf
oí Darien and navigable as far as Quibdo. Plans have
been prepared for a short canal from Cupica Bay, by
which this river would be given an outiet into the Pacific.
Whule the eastern siopes oí the Cordillera and wide
vallcy oí the dcpartment oí El Valle is served by the
Cauca, the western slopc and coastal forcst rcgions are
served by the San Juan, which is open for steamers
froni Buenaventura to San Pablo, and for small boats to
Dipurdu. There is a project to join the San Juan with
the Atrato by canalisation, which would also have the
effcct oí giving direct water comrnunication between the
Atlantic and the Pacific. But the engincering difficuRies are very considerable and tIte probable cost,
in view oí the class of possible traffic, appears prohibitive.
The PAT ¡A di-ains the son th-western border oí Cauca
COMMUNJCATION AND TRANSI'ORT 81
and the western part oí Nariño, ílowing into (he Paciñc
not lar from the Ecuadorian frontier.
On ihe casteru side, dic META rising rn thc Cerro del
Nevado (w)ierc snow-cappcd peaks, 14,110 U. aboye
sea-level, leed enotmous glaciers), lying to dic south-west
of Bogotá, skirts the foot-hilis oí thc Eastern Cordillera,
and, flowing through ihe great territory oí Meta and the
southcrn border oí fue Comisaria oí Arauca, which is
tapped hy tributaries, joiiis the Orinoco at (lic Venezucian
frontier, aud affords an outict into fue Atiantie through
Lake Maracaibo.
The GU:\VIARE river riseb on the southern siope oí tite
Cerro del Nevado, and just be!ow Uribe is joined by thc
Ariari, which res in tite foot-hilis oí the Cordillera de
SunTapaz and passes by the town oí Arana. The
Guaviare continuing ;vitli a north-eastward trend, cuts
the Meta terrizory alrnost in two and fiows into ihe
Orinoco. One da>' it may become o í great importance.
The Yupura, which itows right through thc Caqueta
territorv, tapping it right and left by mcans of many
tributaries, and fue Putumayo, south oí the Caqueta,
both oí which flow into the Marañon, are watenvavs
whose usefulness are bound to be largcly developed in dic
near future.
Othcr ruvers are navugable, though the y are generaily,
tributaries oí the systems already mentioned. Sorne
partxcuiars oí thcse vi1] be found in dic chapter on
Pons and Ilarbours.
RAILwAYS.—T'or the mornent the railways oí Colombia
present an cxtraordinary absence oí systematio dcvclopment. There are fourtecn unes, ranging from 15 to 55
82
COLOMBIA
miles in Iength, dotted about the country, few having
art)' direci connection witit any other. This seemingly
haphazard scatteriug of short stretches of railways in
isolated districts is to a considerable extcnt the result
of tite oid Sovereign State regime, wheri theta were seven
nr eight Governments each ambitious to enter into tite
civilised world's race for raúway construction, but without
much regard to what their neighbours were doing, or
to tite needs of the Coníederation as a wholc.
Twa of the ohviousiy neccssary unes are those of tite
Barranquilla anci the Cartagena railways, both owned by
Fnglish conipanies. The lirsi is 15 miles long and links
up Puerto Colombia with Barranquilla, and has a capital
(in shares and bonds) of £300.000 The second runs
between Cartagena and Calamar on the Magdalena, a
distance of 65 miles; it has a capital of £1,350,000.
]'he Barranquilla railway carnes foar times as many
passengers aud raiher over twice as many goods as the
Cartagena li'ne. Both perforrn a useful purpose, yet they
entati art expensive system of transhiprnent.
Santa Varia Railway. Santa Marta, whose port is
regularly visited by the Elders-Fife Ene as well as the
ships oí the United Fruit Company and the Hamburg
American une, is the starting-point of a railway, owned by
tite English Santa Marta Railvay Company, Ltd. (capital,
sitares and bond, ¿506,370), svhicli runs to Cienega on tite
river Fundación. It has 72 miles of track, and is moreover fed by about 10 miles of short private unes serving
banana piantation estatcs. There is a project to carry
tite une to Banco art the Magdalena, near to its confluence
with the Cesar. This would add about 135 miles to the Une.
COMMUNICATION AYD FRANSPORT SS
On the Paciflc wast thc Cauca railway, ts'hicli vas
staricd forty years ago and has Md a chequered carcer,
is 110W lii tite hands oí a Local coznpany, dic Compania del
Ferrocarril del Pacifico, It has a paid-up share capital
of 354,000 doilars goid, and a bonded debi lloated in
London of LI 19,200 lis Inc runs (ram Buenaventura
towards Cali, which it has ncarly reached, about 83 ¡rules
being open and in operation.
Hari<ing back tn the Magdalena, at a point known as
Puerto \Vilches ve find dic Crea! Central Norl/:ern Raiiway
Conpany. Lid (art Enghsh concern witit a share and
o
bond capital oí L1,001.760 , the Governntent í Colombia
holding £50,000 (.f sitares), constructing a ¡inc tu Bucaramanga, of whicli over 12 miles are completad. This
company, secured tite right to prolong its une f ron
Bucaramanga, so as lo form a junction with the
Ferrocarril del Norte.
Higher np thc river, un tiLe wast bank, is busy Puerto
Berrio, wiiere conimences (he A ntzoquia Razlway (which
is owned 1w thc departmcnt). It is new ncarly conpicted as far as Mcdellin, a dtstance oí 120 miles.
Practically art extension oí this ratiway is being run from
Medeihn through Amaga tu thc Cauca river. TILIS
extensiun new reaches Caldas, 19 miles distant, and sttil
has te be carried another 23 miles. Mr. Mime states that
freights oit Ibis railway, (ron Puerto Domo tu Cisneros
(109 kioms.) are 20 cents goid en general ¡nerchandise,
15 cents Oil coflon yarn, petrolcuni, iour and salt, and
15 ccnts on machinery, galvanised tren, wire icncing
and steel, aH per ton-kilornetre.
Sorne distance farthcr np un tite west bank, jusi below
84
COLOMBIA
Honda, commcnces tite La Dorada Radway, owned by the
Dorada Extension Railway, Ltd., with a capital oí
Ç7OO.000. As elsewherc atrcady explained, thrce o í its
stations, La Dorada, Honda and Arranca Plumas are
on the Magdalena, and Ihere is an extension to Ambalema.
Its chief reason Sor existence is to act as a portage, calTying
all passengers and goods traflic between La Dorada and
Ambalema, thus avoidng the impass.able rapids about
Honda. It also receives much trafflc from Manizales
and elsewhere, which comes over (he Quindio pass road.
Ile main, or river skirtiiig lino, is 31 miles long, aud the
extension 51.
StiU higher np, at Girardot, comrnences a narrow
gauge ratiway, owned b y tite English Colombian Nationci
Railway Company, Ltd. (capital £900,000, one-third
owned by the Government, and a bonded debt oí
£1.480.000).
The 82 miles oí the Colombiano National Railway
end at Facatativa, whence another radway oí 24 miles
starts for Bogotá across the platean. It caries over
70 por cent. oí traifie to ¡md frorn ihe Sabana oí Bogotá,
though np te 1913 ¡note than haif oí the total found
its way down to the valle y bv 'ay oí the Honda mule
track and the Camboa cart road (Bogotá itself
centre oí faur railways serving the Cundinamarca
platean. Besides the Girardo! ¡inc there is /hc Sabana
(practically owncd b y (he Government), which has
25 miles out, te Facatativa. The Ferrocarril del Norte,
owned by thc English Colombian Northern Company,
Lid. (capital, shares and bonds, £780,000) has a 29 miJe
une to Zipaquira. It has ¡nade over its cancession
COMMUNJCATION AND TRANSPORT 85
br (he construction oí an extcnsion ¡toro termmus
to Chiquinquira, where it would conncct up witli an
extension from Bucaramanga, tu the Colombian Central
Railway Company, a short brandi (9 miles) connecting
Zipaquira and Nemocon. The Ferrocarril dd Sur, the
property of the Governrnent, runs from Bogotá tu Sibaté,
a dístance oí 19 miles. It is proposed ultiniately tu link
np Girardot with Ibagué, in Tolima. Work has already
been commericed on this Tolima Railway, which is the
propeny oí the Govet-nment, from the Ibagué end, about
15 miles being in working order. North-east oí Bucaramanga. in Norte de Santander,
is the go-abead town oí Cucuta. In 1888 lis merchants,
with the assistance oí the Nunicipality which owns a
third sitare, constructed a railway 37 miles long to
Puerto Viflamizar, on the Zulia river subsequently an
cxtenson of 10 miles wa.s made to the Venezuelan
frontier, joining the town of Chiguara.
Such is the railway position to-day. The Government
is credited with projects to link np (hese VariouS isolated
unes. The Buenaventura lisie (o Cali woulcl be carried
norib, passing through various towos, to join the CaucaMeddllin lino and so through to Puerto Berrio. Thence it
would turn south to join ,he Dorada lino, whcrc a branch
wou.ld tun tu Tocairna un the Girardot une, thus !inking
up with Bogotá. From Bogotá tite Norte is to be prolonged te Chiquinquira, forming a conjunetion with the
Bucaramanga lino to Puerto Wilches. A une across the
Quindio would connect Cartago wfth Girardot, and a
branch une from Medellin would run to the Guil oí
Uraha. A branch would run- from Girardot te La
7L'45'
86
COLOMBIA
Plata, while the Buenaventura ratlway would be tun
south through Popaan and Pasto tú the Ecuadorian
frontier. To complete the network, a branch vould be
buiD from Bucaramanga tú Cucuta. Thus only the
tinte Atlantic unes would be leí , unconnected.
A free hand has been reserved b y the Government in
the matter oí railwa y construction .Alaw passod in
1892 gives power to the Executive tu grant concessions
without rcference lo the Legislature Subsidies inay be
granted in the form of not ¡note than 300 hectars oí public
lands, plus a sum not exceeding 10,000 dollars goid,
payable in 6 per cent. amonisable bonds, per kilometre
()Cfl tú traflic or a guarantee for not more than twenty
ycars oí intcrest not exceeding 7 per cent. on capital
actuallv invested, and not exceeding 30,000 doilaN goid
per kilometre open to traíñe. This guarantee ceases if and
when the railway succecds earning in three consecutive
vears a profit suffmient to pay the guaranteed interest
A concession may be given for as long as 100 years.
As a rule, the Goveniment reserves power to purchase the
railway at any time after fift' years on valuation, and aiter
sevcnty-fLveyears on payment of 50 per cent. of actual value
It will be readily gathered from what has heen said
aboye that when all allowanccs have been made mr
river trafflc and railway service, the com:nerce oí the
country as a whole is still chiefly dependerit mi ordinary
land transport. \Vhile in a kw districts, mainly in the
imrnediate neighbourhood of a few oí tite b2g cines, there
are gc'od liigh-roads, availabk for public amI private
motor traffic, ami a rather larger mileage open to heavily
bui]t carts, mosi places are only accessible for foot
COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORT 87
passengers. pack-horse-s and mules, over more or less well
defined tracks.
Ro.kus —0n the Sabana of Bogotá sorne cxcellent
highwavs are lo be found The niost notable of thesc
is the Carretera Central del Norte, which unites Bogotá
te Santa Rosa in Boyacá It passes througli ihe
rnuncipa1ities of Usaquen, Cha, Cajica, Sopo, Tocancipa.
Gachancipa, Nemocon, Suesca, Choconta, Villa Pinzon,
Boyacá and Santa Rosa, a distance of 200 miles, and is
traversable 1w carriages ami motors. Next in importance
is the'Carretera de Cambao, uniting Bogotá with Cambao
sorne 130 miles away mi tite Magdalena. These are
supplementcd by a nurnber of smaller roads arid bridle
paths. In Antoquia the gcod caft roads also radiate
from the capital. There is Fue Nort!t Eastern toad tu
Santo Domingo, Uit southern lo Caldas, and others to
Envigado and La Quiebra. Iii Atlantico the onl y carl
road is that betweervl3arranquilla and Usiacuri, about
30 miles long. In Bolivar tlicre are projects for highways
umting Barranquilla wmth Calamar and Turbaco, and
another between Monteria arid Magangué. In Boyacá
fairl y good brandi roads from 11w grcat Ncnh Road
unite Quctame vitli Sogamoso ami so with the Magdalena,
Ibe other running out to Catare. Over a rnile of tkie new
road to imite Saniaca, Sachica ami Chiquinquira, has
been constructed In El Valle a road oí sorne 40 miles
unites Buga ami Palmira In Norte de Santander the
Carretera Central del Norte is under construction, and
is making slow progrcss. In Santander the only cart
road is between Bucaramanga and Florida, a distanc.e of
about 15 múes It is not a long list.
88
COLOMBIA
Apart fron these are severa¡ vel1-known and muck
frequented tracks, sorne traversed by horses and muies,
others only possible for foot passcngers. The most
famous of these is the Quindio road, which may be
entered from Girardot on the Magdalena, touching att
Ibagué and then over rhe Central Cordillera by the
Quindio Pass luto the Cauca vaUcy to Cartago. Another
ancient and much frequented road is that from'Neiva
oit the Magdalena, across the paramos of Guanacas and
Cocortucos on the Central Cordillera to Popoyan. A track
is being made between Quibdo, capital of tite Choco
territory, to Bolivar.
Many of rhesc tracks are difhcu!t att tite hest of times,
and even the good ones are of ten impassable in the
rainy seasori. Males are prefe.rred tu horses, as heing
hardier and more sure-footed. Por pack mities a load,
or cargo, is lirnited to twa packs of from 60 to 70 kilogs.
each, according tú tite mute tu he traversed, and br hght
bat baiky ioads 300 cubic decirnetres is the iirnit. Por
the more difficult tracks and passes smaller and lighter
packs are necessary as they tiave to be carried un men's
or women's backs. un all districis mide and carrier
contractors will he found, with thcir strings of wdi
tramed beasts or human porten.
Ti is ohvious thai for sucb transport as this careful
packing is essential, not oniy as regards size and weight,
bat the strength of dic cases or bales and ihe outer
watcrproof covering.
In the past very sericus mistakes have been made in
connection with the sending out of heavy rnerchandise.
While wondcrs han been done iii transporting machincry
COMNUNICATION AND TRANSFORT 39
into the interior, for instance raiiway material Lo the
Bogotá plateau before the days oí thc Girardot and cart
roads, on the other hand it has of ten happened that
expensive mining and milling machinery, sent out from
Eu.rope, has had to be abandoned in the forest as being
too buiky and heavy.