191 
few Gentiane, especially G. sedifolia, presented themselves - 
occasionally as we proceeded. ! 
The snow that had lately fallen had already disappeared 
from the open ground, but much of it still remained in shel- 
tered places. 
Before leaving Culluay in the morning, we had been ad- 
vised not to take any breakfast except a little broth, to lessen 
the risk of suffering from the puna or veta, the sickness that 
frequently attacks those who are unaccustomed to breathe 
the rarified atmosphere of these elevated regions. None of the 
party, however, had experienced any inconvenience in the 
ascent; and after proceeding about half a league, where the 
elevation was considerably less than at the pass, we halted at 
one of the lakes, and breakfasted on some cold meat. But 
we soon found that we had calculated rather hastily on our 
exemption from the puna; and that, like sea-sickness, which 
it resembles so much in other respects, it does not always 
immediately attack those who are liable to be affected by it. 
Before we had advanced half a mile from the lake, several of 
the party began to suffer from headache; and Mr. M—— 
and myself were so ill that we found some difficulty in reaching 
the end of the stage, a place called Casa-cancha, to which 
we descended about four o'clock. We had scarcely arrived 
When we were both ceased with violent vomiting, accompanied 
by all the sensations that usually attend sea-sickness, but 
the throbbing pain of the head was much more acute and 
sing, . j beg Ee eon ea aue SE 
It is pec said that difficulty of breathing is one of the 
most common and distressing symptoms of this disorder, but 
it is not the case. Few people suffer in their respiration, 
although the pulse is frequently accelerated, while they are 
riding or walking on a level road; it is only in walking over 
rough ground, or in climbing the mountains, that respiration 
is affected, and it then becomes necessary to halt repeatedly 
and take breath. The miners work as hard, and perform 
the same quantum of Jabour at Pasco, fourteen thousand feet 
above the level of the sea, as those at a sixth-part of the eleva- 
tion; and indeed the English mechanics there, unless very 
