164 



THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



could almost feel the impenetrable 

 blaekness which closed in from all sides 

 like water in a deep, dark pool. The 

 light touch of a streamer dangling 

 from the moss-festooned branches over- 

 head, or the velvety swish of fern 

 leaves protruding beyond the protect- 

 ing walls of tree-trunks, made it seem 

 as if the forest were peopled with hov- 

 ering, invisible forms. No sound dis- 

 turbed the brooding silence of the 

 night, except tlie dull lioof-l)eats of the 

 mules, as, guided by some mysterious 

 instinct, they cautiously picked their 

 way through the muddy and rock- 

 strewn lane. 



Hour after hour we followed blindly 

 in tlie wake of the l)cll-mule, winding 

 back and forth along the mountain- 

 side, but mounting ever upward. The 

 latter part of the way seemed to lie 

 near the course of a small mountain 

 torrent, for we wei'c almost constantly 

 within hearin''- distance of rushing 



water. Finally, we emerged from the 

 forest, and, just as day was breaking, 

 reached a brush-covered strip of coun- 

 try, the elevation of which is five thou- 

 sand feet. This continued to the top 

 of the ridge, two thousand feet above. 

 Then there was a depression of consid- 

 erable extent, filled with rank, low 

 vegetation and infested with swarms of 

 bloodthirsty files which render it un- 

 inhabitable. 



After ascending another ridge, the 

 trail led gently downward into a level 

 valley a dozen miles long and from one 

 to two miles wide. Herds of cattle 

 were grazing on the abundant grass; 

 a few small areas had been enclosed 

 within stone walls and planted in 

 maize; and at the far end, half-con- 

 cealed by willows and fruit trees, lay 

 a village of whitewashed houses. At 

 half past four in the afternoon we 

 reached the settlement, called Tafi del 

 Yalle, and soon after were comfortably 



On account of tlie abundance of moisture in the Cloud Forest of the Andean slopes, the trees are 

 covered with mosses, and their branches form aerial gardens of orchids, ferns, and parasitic plants. It 

 was through this deep, dark tangle, to which the rays of the sun never penetrate, that the expedition 

 made the ride at night on the search for Scytaloints 



