183 



of the thatch bemg covered with a dense mass of Tillandsice, 

 of which the seeds have probably been carried there by the 

 wind. When in flower, this unique garden n)ust have a pic- 

 turesque effect. A large Molle was growing in front of the 

 hut, and it had been wounded by chipping the bark in several 

 places to procure its resin, which is much valued as a remedy 

 for bruises; it was exuding plentifully in whitish tears. 



On leaving Huarimayo, we continued along the north side 

 of the valley, which is only wide enough to afford a passage 

 to the stream. The hills rise so abruptly, that, in cutting a 

 road, it has been necessary to carry it to a great elevation, 

 following a natural break in the declivity of the mountain, 

 which allowed a breadth of a few feet to be levelled between 

 a precipice on the one hand, and the almost perpendicular 

 wall of rock that rises on the other. The rushing noise of 

 the stream gradually became more faint as we ascended, and 

 died away before we reached the greatest elevation, at nearly 

 400 feet above its bed. The profound silence that reigns in 

 solitary mountain-districts, where there are no trees, and we 

 hear neither the song of birds nor the humming of insects, 

 was only broken at intervals by the shouts of the muleteers 

 encouraging or threatening their troop, as they wound 

 slowly in an extended line along the sinuosities of the moun- 

 tain. Sometimes, a mule, pressed by a heavy load, showed 

 a disposition to halt and rest, and consequently stop all those 

 in his rear, in places where it was almost impossible to reach 

 him ; but in such cases, a mixed volley of stones and impreca- 

 tions, with threats of future punishment, which experience 

 had taught the offender not to despise, soon had the effect of 

 putting him again en route. 



It chanced that several troops of laden mules, bound to 

 Pasco, were passing the ladera at the same time, and followed 

 in our rear. Our muleteers had neglected the usual precau- 

 tion of sending forward a messenger to prevent others from 

 ascending in the opposite direction till we should have de- 

 scended to the valley and left the road clear; the consequence 

 was, that we were met at the end of the ladera by another party 

 that had just ascended, and our muleteers being in fault, the 



