1835.] Ascent of Chimbm'azo. 253 



us. The intensity of sound appeared to me to be diminished, 

 in a remarkable manner; the voices of my companions were 

 so modified, that, in every other condition, it would have 

 been impossible to have recognized them. The trifling 

 noise which was produced by striking a hammer with full 

 force upon the rock, struck us also with wonder. 



The rarefaction of the air produces generally upon per- 

 sons who climb high mountains the most marked effect. 

 On the top of Mount Blanc, Saussure felt a disposition to 

 sickness. His guides, who were also inhabitants of Cha- 

 mouni, experienced the same sensation. This state of un- 

 easiness was increased by moving, or in observing two 

 instruments. The first Spaniards who ascended the lofty 

 mountains of America, were seized, according to Acosta, 

 with nausea, and pain of the bowels. Bouguer had several 

 hemorrhagies among the Cordilleras of Quito. The same 

 accident happened on Mount Rose, to M. Zumstein, and 

 Humboldt and Bonpland, during their ascent of Chimborazo 

 on the 23d June 1802, felt an inclination to vomit, and the 

 blood came from their lips and gums. 



Although we had experienced great difficulty in breathing, 

 and great lassitude while descending, when we rested, these 

 disagreeable feelings ceased to trouble us, and we felt as if 

 in our usual state. Perhaps our insensibility to the effects 

 of the rarified air was to be attributed to our previous resi- 

 dence in the elevated towns of the Andes. After witnessing 

 the activity in such elevated towns as Bogota, Micuipampa, 

 Potoxi, (kc, the strength and prodigious agility of the prize 

 fighters at a bull-fight at Quito, which is situated at a height 

 of 3,000 metres (9,840 feet,) or young and delicate women 

 dancing during the whole night in situations nearly as high 

 as Mount Blanc, where the celebrated Saussure had scarce 

 strength to consult his instruments, and where his vigorous 

 mountaneers fell down from weakness while digging a hole 

 in the snow; when I add that the celebrated battle of 

 Pinchinca was fought at a height little inferior to Mount 

 Rose, it will readily be admitted that man may accustom 

 himself to breathe the rarified air of the highest mountains. 



In all my excursions among the Cordilleras I have always 

 experienced, at the same height, a sensation infinitely more 

 painful in passing over a place covered with snow, than in 



