BOTANICAL TRIP HITCHCOCK 347 



Four trips were made in Bolivia, to Illimani, to the Yungas, to 

 Cochabamba, and to the southern border. 



Illimani is the most accessible high mountain in the vicinity of La 

 Paz. It lies to the east at a distance of about 30 miles and is a 

 dominating factor in the scenery. From my hotel window, which 

 faced the east, I had a beautiful view of this majestic peak, which 

 was perfectly framed between other mountains closer to the city. 

 Especially strildng was the view at sunset as the glistening white 

 reflected from the great snow cap passed into pink and purple and 

 finally to a pale blue. The mountain does not end in a cone like 

 Chimborazo and Cotopaxi of Ecuador, but is a short ridge of about 

 three peaks, the highest of which is said to be 21,204 feet. Another 

 mountain, Sorata (also called Illampu) lies to the north of La Paz 

 about 60 miles, but can be seen from the city only under certain 

 favorable conditions. This peak is a little higher than Illimani, 

 21,490 feet. In company with Mr. Dagg I went by mule back and 

 with pack animals to Illimani, ascending to the base of the great 

 glacier at about 16,000 feet. It took two days to reach a ranch at the 

 base of the peak, one day to make the ascent, and one day to return 

 to La Paz. The face of the glacier is about 100 feet high and at 

 intervals drops masses of ice, which roll down the slope for some 

 distance. 



The trip to the Yungas was made in company with Dr. Otto 

 Buchtien, the well-known German botanist, who has lived many 

 years in Bolivia and has collected widely in that country as well 

 as in neighboring parts of Peru and Chile. He has written a flora 

 of Bolivia and has a better knowledge of the flora of the country 

 than any other botanist. 



The Yungas is an indefinite region lying on the Amazon slope of 

 the Cordillera Real or eastern chain of the Andes, and includes the 

 valleys and slopes of the Montana toward the Beni River. More 

 specifically it includes the provinces of Nor- Yungas and Sur- Yungas. 

 Through the courtesy of Sr. J. B. Aramayo, director general of the 

 railroad now under construction from La Paz to the Yungas, we 

 were given facilities for the trip, including transportation on the 

 completed part of the road from La Paz to Pongo, and mules and 

 driver into the valley. The railroad ascends out of the valley of 

 La Paz and over the pass of the Cordillera at an altitude of about 

 15,300 feet to Pongo at about 12,000 feet. From here we took saddle 

 mules and one pack mule for a seven days' trip through Nor- and 

 Sur- Yungas. First there was one long descent of 7,000 feet, then 

 much up and down as rivers were crossed and ridges ascended. We 

 passed through San Felipe and La Florida, ending the eastern 

 journey at Chulumani, the capital of Sur- Yungas. The route then 

 lay through Coripata and Coroico, the capital of Nor- Yungas, and 



