Ch.1I. SOUTH AMERICA. 215 



hear, our greatest pain was caused by the excesslveness 

 of the cold, the intenseness of which may be con- 

 jectured from the following experiments made by the 

 thermometer, carefully sheltered from the wind, on 

 the top of Pichincha -y the freezing point being at 

 J 000. 



On the 15th of August, -1737, at twelve at noon, 

 the liquor was at the height of 1003. At four io 

 theev^ening, at 1001-I-. At fix in the evening, at 9981. 



On the loth of August, at six in the morning, at 

 997. At ten in the forenoon, at 1005. At twelve 

 at noon, at ioo8. At five in the evening, at loox-^. 

 At six in the evening, at 9994-. 



On the 17th, at three quarters after five in the 

 morning, at 996. At nine in the morning, at looi. 

 At -2- after twelve, at loio. Ac ^ afier two in the 

 afternoon, at 1012-^. At six in the evening, at 999. 

 And at ten in the evening, at 998. 



Our first scheme for shelter and lodging, in these 

 uncomfortable regions, was, to pitch a field-tent for 

 each company ; but on Pichincha this could not be 

 done, from the narrowness of the summit^ and we were 

 obliged to be contented with a hut, so small, that we 

 could hardly all creep into it. Nor will this appear 

 strange, if the reader considers the bad disposition and 

 smallness of the place, it beingone of the lofcieSt crags 

 of a rocky mountain, one hundred coises above ti:e 

 highest part of the desert of Pichincha. Such was the 

 situation of our mansion, which, like all the other ad- 

 jacent parts, soon became covered with ice and snow. 

 The ascent up this stupendous reck, from the base, 

 or the place where the mules could come, to our ha- 

 bitation, was so craggy, as only to be climbed on foot, 

 and to perform it, cost us four liours coatinual la- 

 bour and pain, from the violent efforts of the body, 

 and the subtility of the air; the latter being such, as 

 to render respiration difficult, it was my misfortune, 

 when I climbed something above half way, to be so 



P 4, over- 



