1835.] Ascent of Cidmborazo. 63 



crape. It is obvious that such a slight fabric cannot pre- 

 serve the skin from the contact of the air, but it may 

 diminish the strength of the light to which one is exposed. 

 When the sun shines on a snovry plain, I have been told 

 that it is only necessary to blacken the face. I am the more 

 inclined to believe this because the negro who accompanied 

 me to Antisana, having like myself neglected to wear a 

 veil, was seized with a violent inflammation of the eyes, 

 while the epidermis of his face was not injured, and mine 

 was completely destroyed.^ 



When the cloud in which we were enveloped was dissi- 

 pated, we examined our situation. Looking at the red rock 

 we had on our right a tremendous gulf. On our left, to- 

 wards Arenal, an immense rock was distinguished, which 

 it was necessary to reach in order to ascertain if the red 

 rock could be passed, and to see if we could proceed further. 

 The access to this belvidere was rough : I reached it however 

 with the assistance of my two companions. I observed that 

 if we could clamber over an inclined surface covered with 

 snow, on the side of the rock opposite to that on which we 

 had approached, we might attain a more considerable eleva- 

 tion. In order to have an accurate idea of the topography 

 of Chimborazo, let one figure to himself an immense rock 

 supported on all sides by props ; the angles are the props 

 which, from the plain, appear to support this enormous 

 block. 



Before undertaking this dangerous passage, I ordered 

 my negro to try the state of the snow. It possessed con- 

 venient consistence. Hall and the negro endeavoured to 

 turn round to the position which I occupied, and I 

 endeavoured to rejoin them, when they had gained a suffi- 

 cieiitly secure footing to receive me ; for to accomplish this 

 it was necessary to slide down a descent of 25 feet over the 

 ice. Just when we were preparing to set out, a stone was 

 detached from the upper part of the mountain and fell near 

 Colonel Hall. It met with a check which changed its 

 course. I thought he was wounded, and could not be con- 



* The action of the light appears to be the true explanation of the disagreable 

 effect described. I have seen troublesome inflammation of the conjunctiva in- 

 duced in seamen, by incautiously sleeping on deck, with the face exposed to the 

 influence of the light of the moon and stars ; sailors call it star blindness. — Edit. 



