OF THE QUITENIAN ANDES. 177 
at the foot of some precipice. Besides, only one sort of Cinchona 
‚ was known to exist in those forests, whereas by going a few days’ 
journey farther to the southward, to the forests below Alausi, in 
the valley of the river Chanchán, I might expect to find three 
sorts, and the road thither nowhere ascends above 12,000 feet. 
So the latter plan was finally adopted, and on the 22nd of July I 
sallied forth from the pleasant town of Ambato (8500 feet) along 
the narrow “ callejon” (lane) which separates the eastern from the 
western branch of the Cordillera. My company comprised five 
horses and mules, one mounted by myself, another by my servant, 
and the remaining three laden with my baggage, consisting of 
drying-paper, clothing and bedding, and a copious supply of tea, 
coffee, and sugar—articles rarely to be met with in a country where 
there are no inns, and where the inhabitants with few exceptions 
use no other beverage than aquardiente and sour chicha. An 
arriero took charge of the beasts of burden. 
. Our first day's stage to Riobamba was a long one, 12} Colum- 
bian leagues (about 40 English miles). The first five leagues, 
reaching to the village of Mocha, are along a very gradual ascent, 
varied by a few shallow quebradas. The soilis what in Yorkshire 
we used to call *a leight blaw-away sand," which, when the sun 
and wind are up, scorches and blinds the traveller, though it pro- 
duces scanty crops of maize, barley, peas and lupines (eaten here 
under the name of “ chocchos'"). The indigenous vegetation is 
limited to a few insignificant weeds, chiefly Composites, nestling 
under the hedges of Yucca and Agave. The flowers of the two 
latter plants —so great a rarity in England—are here to be seen 
all the year round, and their tall tree-like peduncles are the poles 
used throughout the Cordillera for all common purposes, such as 
fences, rafters, and even walls of houses, &c. Long files of asses 
laden with them enter the towns of Ambato and Riobamba every 
market-day. 
Beyond Mocha we leave the sandy country, and after passing 
two streams which descend from Mount Carguairazo, on our right, 
We begin to ascend to the Paramo de Sanancajas, the grassy meseta 
Which extends along the eastern base of Chimborazo, at a height 
of from 11,000 to 12,000 feet. Near its commencement the road 
leading from Quito to Guayaquil branches off to the right, while 
that to Riobamba and Cuenca continues straight on. The weather 
had been rainy for many previous days, and we had had drizzling 
rain all the way to Mocha, so that we were not without apprehen- 
sion of suffering from the cold on the paramo. Fortunately, just 
