HALL’S EXCURSIONS, 341 
are thus not likely to be dangerous to the city. The moun- 
tain is, however, frequently shaken with explosions, and 
lately a torrent of mud ruined the road leading to Mindo, 
which follows the banks of a river, descending from the 
mountain, and with which the ravine of the volcano seems 
to communicate. The colour of the rocks varying from dull 
red to cinereous-blue, their masses shivered on all sides into 
pointed pinnacles, so different from the general character of 
Trachytic formations, irresistibly impress on the imagination 
the idea of a period when a gulph of fire, since exhausted by 
its own efforts, vomited desolation over the surrounding coun- 
try. The forests, which now cover the southern and western 
flanks of the mountain, are rooted in decomposed pumice. 
The whole plain of Quito presents the same appearance, 
although in a degree less striking, from the changes and 
admixture of the soils, produced by cultivation. It is to be 
observed, that the mud poured out from the volcanos of the 
Andes is much more readily adapted to vegetable productions 
than the indurated lavas of Etna or Vesuvius. This is strik- 
ingly manifest in the neighbourhood of Cotopaxi and Car- 
guirazo, the eruptions of which are of recent date. Pichin- 
cha well deserves the epithet of “ Rucu,” (old) given it by the 
Indians. Its present commotions are the enfeebled efforts 
ofage. Many centuries must have elapsed since it existed in 
all its tremendous power ; for we find no record of its having 
done any considerable damage, either in the traditions of the 
Indians, which notice both the eruptions of Cotopaxi and 
the fall of the dome of Capac-Urcu, or in the more recent 
histories of the Spaniards. We reckoned, from the edge of 
the crater where we stood, to the sulphureous exhalations 
below, might be a depth of about 1500 feet. The possibility 
of a descent naturally suggested itself; and, at a subsequent 
period, the attempt was made. On the 28th of July, 1832, 
Professor Jameson, Don Pedro Negreto, Dr. Terry of the 
United States and myself, visited Pichincha for this purpose. 
We slept in the cave already described, and on the morning 
of the 29th proceeded to the edge of the crater. We found 
