IN VARIOUS PARTS OK THE GLOBE. 183 



and grain of the former constitute the only food of the beasts of 

 burden ; for on the pasture-land the grass is so short, that it can 

 only be eaten by sheep and lamas. A little lower the common 

 fodder of the country is Lucern or Alfalfa (^Medicago sativa), 

 which is cultivated throughout Spanish America. 



Continually advancing, I entered the valley of Cinti on the 

 14th of January ; the strata of the rocks are seen everywhere 

 on the lofty sides of this ravine, and their dull red colour con- 

 trasts strongly with the rich verdure the result of the industry of 

 the Cintenos. It was with great pleasure that I saw" French 

 fruit trees in these parts. The Vine grows abundantly in com- 

 pany with the Peach, Apple, and Pear ; at their feet are Melons 

 and large beds of Strawberries. Cinti wine is perhaps the best 

 made in America. Another product is the fruit of the Raquette 

 or Tuna, which tastes something like an English Pear, Potatoes 

 are quite as good here as in Europe. Of the indigenous trees the 

 MoUe (Schimis Molle), which is found cultivated in the south 

 of Europe, is the only one worthy of note. By its appearance 

 it brings to mind both the Acacia and Weeping Willow ; its 

 wood is reddish and of little durability. 



I left Cinti on the 26th of January and proceeded to Tarija, 

 distant about three days' joiuuiey. 



The road emerging from the ravine of Cinti follows the base 

 of a small Cordillera, over a slightly undulating plain as far as 

 the village of Camataqui, which is joined by a similar plain 

 with the small town of San Juan. A remarkably elegant shrub, 

 the Larrea divaricata or Jarilla, covered with yellow flowers, 

 particularly attracted my attention towards the latter end of this 

 journey ; it is one of the best sudorifics found in Bolivia ; in the 

 same localities are found the Molle already mentioned, and a 

 DodoncBa (Chaca-tia) with viscous leaves. 



Beyond San Juan is the large Puna of Iscaiachi, only ap- 

 proached through terrific ravines. It is difficult to imagine the 

 disagreeable sensation produced by the chilling winds which 

 sweep the higher plains, and are encountered the moment the 

 latter are entered ; it is like being suddenly transported to the 

 Polar regions : I was not long exposed to them, for the next 

 day I descended to the valley of Tarija,* at the same time 

 making a good collection of plants, and the last of the season. 



The next day, the 1st of February, I followed the course of 

 the Rio de Tarija, which flows between two mountain chains, 

 over a thick layer of alluvial soil, then covered with maize 



* The mean height of this valley above the level of the sea is about 

 1770 yards. In June, the coldest month of the year, the thermometer falls 

 nearly every night below the freezing point, and the mean temperature is 

 about 13° C, the same as that of many places in the south of France. 



