BOTANICAL TRIP — HITCHCOCK 341 



day's journey was feed for the animals. The mules are not given 

 grain but depend upon cut green feed. This is fed at night and 

 morning, and when possible at noon. In the uplands the fodder is 

 usually alfalfa. Other fodder given in certain localities where 

 alfalfa was not available was green cornstalks, sugar cane, bamboo, 

 cachi {Axonopus scoparius), and in one region in southern Ecuador', 

 cakes of raw sugar. Because of the necessity of stopping overnight 

 in the towns we were often hurried in our collecting on the passes. 

 We could camp in the collecting areas but we could not provide 

 feed for the animals — a prime consideration in traveling. In some 

 places there was grass, but it was not practicable to allow the animals 

 to roam over grassland at night. If they are not lost they have at 

 least been unable to take proper rest and are likely to give out the 

 next day. 



Since we drank no unboiled water, we depended on large quantities 

 of weak tea at our meals, supplemented occasionally by bottled water 

 or " pop " at the larger towns. Travelers generally depend on bot- 

 tled beer or other alcoholic drink which is widely distributed, being 

 sold at the smallest roadside shop, but we were at a disadvantage as 

 we did not drink beer. 



It was fortunate that I took with me a cot. This I used even 

 though there were a bed in the room. Insect pests Avere usually pres- 

 ent in the smaller hotels or in the Indian huts where it was necessary 

 to stop. The usual pests were fleas, bedbugs, and lice. In setting 

 up the cot I was careful not to let it or any of my belongings touch 

 the walls. Furthermore, at Indian huts I would not have been 

 allowed to stop if I could not furnish my own bed. Being a white 

 man, the natives would not consent to have me share their simple 

 belongings after their own manner. 



ITINERARY IN PERU 



Peru was entered at Callao, the port of Lima, which lies a few 

 miles inland. Lima is a fine modern city. The climate here is fine, 

 and, though in the Tropics at near sea level, the heat is never oppres- 

 sive. The whole coast south of Ecuador is kept cool by the Hum- 

 boldt Current coming up from the south. Two days were spent at 

 Lima establishing connections for further work. 



The first trip was to the interior over a wonderful mountain rail- 

 road to Oroya. The train leaves Lima about 7 a. m. and for three 

 hours traverses the coastal plain. Then it starts to climb the great 

 Cordillera through a most amazing series of gorges, crossing deep 

 valleys and skirting precipices. At about 3 p. m. the summit of the 

 pass (in a tunnel) is reached at nearly 16,000 feet (15,689 feet) and 

 ■ then descends to the town of Oroya at about 12,000 feet. Thus in five 

 20397—25 23 



