668 



NATURALIST'S GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



Peruvian port of Paita, whence they 

 travel by steamer to their destination. 

 Leaving Loja, one has his choice of two 

 routes for the first portion of the jour- 

 ney; he may proceed either through 

 Gonsanamd. and Cariamanga to Macard 

 (on the frontier), or he may go via 

 Catacocha and Celica. From Macard, 

 to Piura there is only one road, and 

 that a fairly good one. By either route, 

 the journey from Loja to Piura is made 

 in five or six days. 



The trail northward from Loja to 

 Cuenca, and thence to Huigra on the 

 Guayaquil-Ouito railroad, is passable 

 throughout the year, though with 

 difficulty during the wet season (Janu- 

 ary to May), when deep mud will be 

 encountered. The section from Loja 

 to Cuenca is usually made in five or six 

 days. The villages along the road, 

 where one may pass the night, are so 

 situated that it is difficult to make the 

 journey unless in three very long and 

 hard jornadas (days' journeys) or in six 

 short ones. In any event, poor accom- 

 modations will be found, and little food, 

 and the traveler who is not forced to 

 depend upon the country for his sup- 

 lies is indeed fortunate. 



Leaving Loja, the trail crosses the 

 plain or basin of the same name and 

 enters the canyon of the Rio Zamora. 

 Las Juntas, a collection of four or five 

 huts, is reached after half a day's riding, 

 and in another five or six hours the 

 village of San Lucas (8200 ft.). Here 

 there is a tambo (inn) where travelers 

 can pass the night. Past this village, 

 the trail leads up around the shoulder 

 of Acacana Mountain, through interest- 

 ing and attractive country. After 

 reaching 10,200 ft., a descent is com- 

 menced and continued to the town of 

 Zaraguro (8400 ft.), inhabited by about 

 2000 Indians. There is a tambo here 

 and limited supplies are available. 

 There is here a change in the character 

 of the country. From Loja thus far 

 there has been abundant rain-forest, 

 with grass in occasional open places; 

 from here northward the mountainsides 

 are dry and barren, with only occasional 

 bits of scrubby forest. 



Two hours' riding from Zaraguro is 

 Paquishapa (8300 ft.), and a long ascent 

 to the grass-covered pdramo. Here 

 there are two tambos, and the region 

 round about is highly cultivated. 

 Another five hours brings one to Cocha- 

 pata (9000 ft.), a village of perhaps 500 

 people, in a good agricultural region. 

 About three hours farther on is Nab6n 

 (9100 ft.) where there is a tambo, and 

 limited supplies of food, as well as 

 fodder for the animals. 



After leaving Nab6n, a long ascent is 

 made to the grass-covered pdramo, 

 much of which lies at an elevation of 

 about 11,500 ft. Ten hours' riding 

 brings one to the settlement of Tarqui 

 (8750 ft.), in a pretty agricultural 

 region, whence the road follows at the 

 same level onto the floor of the hoyo or 

 basin of Cuenca, and in another four 

 hours the town of Cuenca (8500 ft.) is 

 reached. Here will be found good ac- 

 commodations, in one of the most 

 attractive and prosperous towns of 

 Ecuador. 



From Cuenca northward to the town 

 of Azogues, the road is sufficiently broad 

 and level to serve for wheeled traffic; 

 from Azogues to Huigra it is suitable 

 only for pack and riding animals. The 

 time from Cuenca to Huigra is two daj'S. 

 The country traversed is more dens.ely 

 populated than that between Cuenca 

 and Loja, and there are better accom- 

 modations for travelers. At Azogues 

 there is a small hotel, and another in 

 Canar; in the village of Tambo de Caiiar 

 accommodations can also be obtained, 

 but from this point to Huigra there is 

 practically nothing. In the dry season 

 the trip is usually divided as follows: 

 one day from Cuenca to Canar, and one 

 from Cafiar to Huigra, or vice versa; 

 in the wet season the section between 

 Cafiar and Huigra becomes almost 

 impassable, and can not be done in one 

 day. 



Leaving Cuenca after a brief ascent 

 into rough country one descends to 

 Azogues (8300 ft.). From this point the 

 road follows the river to Biblidn (8900 f t. ), 

 and ascends to the pdramo, which it 

 crosses at an elevation of 11,000 to 



