ASCENT OF CHIMBORAZO. 145 



that to Quito. We determined to spend the day in botanizing, and in 

 shooting deer and birds ; while we should be endeavouring to decide 

 on the track which promised easiest access to the top. We fixed our- 

 selves in the evening under a large, sloping rock, which sheltered us 

 from the north-east wind, but afforded no cover from wet, if the rain, 

 which had fallen in the afternoon, should come on again. The weather 

 cleared as night approached, and we had splendid views of the starry 

 heavens, against which the mountain came off in strong and sharp re- 

 lief, while a gurgling, subterranean stream sounded pleasantly in our 

 ears. 



At five in the morning, when it is hardly day in equinoctial regions, 

 we left our camping-place, and started, carrying lights, two thermo- 

 meters, a compass, a coffee-pot, and tobacco. The summit of Chim- 

 borazo, before us, was bearing north-east, and the Inga-Pirca stretched 

 like a wall behind us. A steep hill, which lay between us and the per- 

 petual snows, proved so fatiguing of ascent, with its sharp, bristling 

 rocks, that the two natives were discouraged, and turned back again. 

 After climbing this hill, we descended to the moist sand of a valley, 

 which we threaded, and on emerging from it, we had the satisfaction 

 to see the mountain-top quite free from clouds. By six o'clock we had 

 reached the snows, and found great interest in watching the conflicts 

 of the humming-birds, which attacked each other with their tiny beaks 

 and buzzing wings ; and no less to see a quantity of plants in flower 

 among the eternal frosts. We noticed several Composite, and a Caryo- 

 phyllaceous species : among the former were a Culcitium and a Chu- 

 quiragua, a dwarf Umbellifera (Oreomyrrhis), two kinds of Violet with 

 tufted foliage, a starry Crucifer, and a low-growing Gentian, with large, 

 red flowers. We were disappointed of finding Saxifraga Boussingaulti 

 (of Brongniart), a plant of particular geographical interest, because it 

 is considered to inhabit loftier spots than any known Phamogamous 



species. 



After half an hour's walk across the snow, vegetation suddenly dis- 

 appeared, and no living thing was to be seen save two large partridges, 

 while the rocks were speckled with a few Lichens of the Idwthalami 

 and Hymenothalami families. At this point we stopped to collect and 

 make a faggot, which we carried on the back, of the dead branches of 

 the Chuquiragua ; still we had to escalade an immense rock of trachyte, 

 from the top of which the summit of Chimborazo looked so close to us. 



VOL. IX. 



I 



