189 



able extent of level land is cultivated by the inhabitants, 

 who were harvesting two sorts of roots, the Oca, {Oxalis 

 tuberosa,) and Olluca, {Tropceolum tube7vsum,) of which the 

 Indians are very fond, and which thrive at a great elevation 

 in the mountains, where scarcely any other vegetable can be 

 cultivated. The alcalde, at whose dwelling, being the 

 largest in the place, we intended to pass the night, was 

 absent, like the rest, in the fields; and the door being locked, 

 we had to wait patiently for his return. 



It was evening when we arrived, and, as the sun went 

 down, we found the air piercingly cold, so that we were glad 

 to crowd round the turf fire of a smoky hovel, that served for 

 a kitchen, till our host came, and supper was prepared. A 

 party from Pasco arrived shortly after us, and informed us 

 that snow had fallen for several days in some parts of the 

 Cordillera, where partial snow-storms are occasionally 

 experienced at all seasons, but it seldom falls till after mid- 

 day. 



On the neighbourhood of Culluay, as well below as above 

 the town, the rocks are granite and porphyry ; many detached 

 blocks of calcareous tufa are spread about near the town. 

 For the last mile or two, the rocks by the roadside were 

 quite covered with the Loasa, and various Calceolarice, and a 

 species of Asplenium filled many of the crevices. 



27th. — As we had a rough day's journey before us, we were 



obliged to rise before daylight, and several of our party who 



had not quitted Lima for some years, did not at all relish the 



fresh morning air, at a temperature very little above freezing. 



Advancing from Culluay, there is a great sameness in the 



appearance of the hills, which are mostly covered with a 



smooth compact turf. A long ladera conducted us to the 



head of the valley, where we crossed a small rill that takes 



its rise in a neighbouring ravine, and is the source of the 



river of which we had traced the course from the coast. At 



this spot, called the Alto de Jacaybamba, two leagues from 



Culluay, we commenced the ascent of the Cordillera. It was 



steep and rugged, lying among rocks of porphyry and tufa, 



like that at Canta. A large insulated hill, called La Viuda, 



