Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, <Sfc. 209 



low, rose immediately in front, and apparently close to us. 

 About 1 P.M. I pushed forward ahead of my cargoes, with the 

 view of seeking some convenient spot to locate in. Soon after 

 came on a hail-storm, of which we had a succession that after- 

 noon. The wind made it extremely cold, and, my horse being 

 knocked up, I was glad to get off and walk. Just at the point 

 where the roads from Quito and Riobamba converge, was pointed 

 out what vv^as supposed to have been an aqueduct of the Incas. 

 Below us was a very deep and wide quebrada, amongst the white 

 rocks of which the Condors {Sarcorhamphus) are said to breed. 

 We saw a few of these birds soaring above us, and two, which 

 were not at any great height, appeared to be of a smaller species 

 than that which I am acquainted with. Having arrived at a 

 place called Panza, we halted : it hailed and rained in torrents. 

 The mist was driving about so thick, that it was with great diffi- 

 culty I found a spot for the night amidst some stunted trees. 

 Fortunately, about 5 p.m. it cleared off again, and we had a fine, 

 but cold night. It froze hard, the hail lay on the ground, and 

 icicles hung from the trees. We busied ourselves with cutting 

 branches, and gathering paja (a coarse grass with which the 

 paramo is covered) to build a hut. We were here situated just on 

 the ' divide.^ The mountain-torrent below was flowing towards 

 Guayaquil ; all the other streams we had passed were running 

 eastward. We were 7 leagues (about 4^ miles each) from Rio- 

 bamba, and 8 or 9 from Guaranda, on the road to Guayaquil. 

 The height is guessed at 14,000 feet, as 1 had no means for de- 

 termination. We w^ere within one league of the snow. We ap- 

 peared to be above the I'ange of the Gallinazos [Cathartes). Their 

 place was taken by the Buitres or Condors, one of which might 

 be occasionally seen soaring above. Having procured specimens 

 of the desired Humming-bird, I returned to Riobamba, with my 

 eyes blood- shot, face blistered, and nose swollen, the usual effects 

 of the wind at this altitude.^' 



Owing to the blockade of Guayaquil by the Peruvians, Mr. 

 Fl'aser has been unable to forward his latest collections. 



Mr. Wallace's last letters to Mr. Stevens are dated " Batchian 



