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6

friendly and patient with Clara's Spanish.
   The hotel office gave us directions for finding the National City Bank of New York, where we cashed traveller's checks at the rate of four dollars equals seven pesos.  The bank directed us to the United States Embassy on Carrera Septima; it seemed a long way out on that first afternoon, and very near later. At the consulate we talked with Col. Strong, Mr. Lovell and Miss James; at the Embassy with Mr. Donovan.
   Next we delivered our letter from Doña Paulina Gomez Vega to her sisters.  We found Carrera Octava, No. 17-86, a three story brick building on the corner of Calle 18. The entrance was barred by a high metal grill, locked. We rang, and after a long wait a little girl came and told us las Señoritas Gomez Vega lived on the third floor. We climbed the high narrow spiral of the stone stairway, and rang again. Another long wait. We presented our letter and cards, were bowed to chairs near the door, and began the longest wait of all. Then came Doña Silvia, who spoke very slowly and patiently ^[[so]] that we could really talk with her. She would be glad to make a place for us, but it would take several days to do it. She would telephone us at the hotel when she could set a day.
   Back to our room to rest before dinner. Telephone from the desk announced a caller, and we went down to make the acquaintance of Richard Schultes, a botanist from Harvard. He was to leave early next morning for seven months in the Putomayo region, working on poisonous and narcotic plants. We sat in the high gloomy hotel lounge, among the straight solemn black leather chairs and impressive tall floor lamps that cast an incredibly feeble light.
   Dinner in the dining room, ending with a white pedestal bowl of Colombian fruits, mango, naseberry, finger bananas, and sad little wizened green peaches.

Feb. 6.  We had planned to be at the Oficina de Policías at eight-thirty, to ask Sr. Esguerra for a cedula. We were a few minutes late and were told that he was out and would not return until three in the afternoon.  Walked home through the Plaza de Bolívar, and looked around the patio of the Palacio de Gobierno; much effort to get up courage to ask name of statue from some hurrying male, finally found it on the rear of pedestal -- Tomás de Mosquera. Walked all around Bolívar in center of plaza. Stopped at bookstore and bought a copy of "Condesa de Charny". Back at room in time to take a phone call from Murillo announcing his call. He came with Carlos Lehmann, who speaks English perfectly. Lehmann is an ornithologist who specializes on hawks; he is a great grandson of