Ch.I. south AMERICA. 201 



said, that it would be much safer I0 perform this part 

 of the journey on foot: but how can any person be 

 sure always of placing his feet directly on the emi- 

 nences between the holes ? and the least false step 

 throws him up to the waist in a slimy mud, with 

 which all the holes are full ; and then he will find it 

 very difficult either to proceed or return back. 



These holes,or cam'elpnes, as they are called, ren- 

 der all this road very toilsome and dangerous, being as 

 it were so many obstacles to the poor mules ; ihongh 

 the danger is even greater in those parts where they 

 are wanting. For as the tracks are extremely steep 

 and slippery, from the soil, which is chalky and con- 

 tinually wet; so they would be quite impracticable, 

 did not the Indians go before, and dig little trenches 

 across the road, with small spades which they carry 

 with them for this purpose ; and thus both the dif- 

 ficulty and danger of these craggy paths are greatly _ 

 lessened. This work is continual, every drove re- 

 quiring a repetition of it; for in less than a night the 

 rain utterly destroys all the trenches cut by several 

 hands the preceding day. The trouble of having peo- 

 ple going before to mend the road; the pains arising 

 from the many falls and bruises; and the disagree- 

 ableness of seeing one's self entirely covered withdirt, 

 and wet to the skin, might be the more cheerfully 

 supported, were they not augmented by the sight of 

 such frightful precipices, and deep abysses, as must 

 fill the traveller's mind with terror. For, without 

 the least exaggeration, it may be said, that in travel- 

 ling this road, the most resolute tremble. 



The manner of descending fiom these heights is 

 not less difficult and dangerous. In order to under- 

 stand this, it is necessary to observe, that in those parts 

 of the mountains, the excessive steepness will not ad- 

 mit of the camelones being lasting; for the waters, by 

 continually softening the earth, wash them away. On 

 one side are steep eminences,and pn the other fright- 

 ful 



