Cir. VIH. SOUTH AMERICA. 43S 



in a tafnbo, or inn, he sleeps with the same' security, 

 though the doors are always open : nor is he ever 

 molested on the road. This is a convenience so fa- 

 vourable to commerce and intercourse, that it were 

 greatly to be wished the same security could be esta- 

 bUshed in the other parts of tlie world. 



CHAP. vni. 



Continuation of the Account of the ParamoSy or 

 Deserts ; with an Account of the Beasts, Birds, 

 and other Particulars of this Province, 



TO conclude my observations on the Paramos, 

 which it was necessary to interrupt, in order to give 

 a short account of the rirers, bridges and roads, I 

 shall observe, that, these parts not being of a height 

 sufficient to expose them to an eternal frost, they 

 are covered with a kind of rush resembling the genista 

 Hispánica, but much more soft and flexible. It is 

 about half or three quarters of a yard in height, and, 

 when of its full magnitude, its colour is like that oí 

 dried genista Hispánica. But where the snow remains 

 some time on the ground without melting, none of 

 these plants growing in habitable climates are found. 

 There are indeed others, though few, and eveii these 

 never exceed a certain height. Above this tract, no- 

 thing is seen but stones and sand all the way up to 

 the beginning of the ice. 



In these parts, where the above rush is the princi- 

 pal product, the soil is as little adapted to cultiva- 

 tion ; but produces a tree, which the inhabitants call 

 quinual, the nature of which very well suits the 

 roughness of the climate. It is of middling height^ 

 tufted, and the timber strong ; its leaf of a long, oval 

 form, thick, and of a deep green colour. Though it 

 bears the same name as the grain called quinua, of 

 Vol. I. F f -^vhich 



