SMITHSOXIAX EXPLORATIONS. I929 



121 



meiit. And a weird assortment of animals they l)r(ni,^ht Ijack I The 

 irate owners were not molHfiefl until ])ermittecl to select a representa- 

 tive to accompany us. 



The scenery along this trail t<j the Apurimac is sujjerl). Two distinct 

 ridges are crossed at about 14,000 feet altitude before the trail makes 

 its final descent to the jungles. For the first part of the trip the moun- 

 tain sides are a riot of color — blue lupines, yellow calceolarias, (jrange 

 alonsoas, and mutisias, pink orchids, and red salvias everywhere. At 

 these higher elevations there are a few shrubs and an occasional low. 

 much-gnarlfd tree. P>ut. (in the thirfl day out. on ])assing through a 



Fig. 103. — Primitive life at Pargora. in the high mountains between Huanta 

 and the Apurimac River. The cold here is intense, and the natives are usually 

 shivering as they do the little work necessary to eke out a miserable existence. 



gap in the mountains, we saw the Amazonian forest spread out below, 

 a dark sea of treetops, relieved only by the pale leaves of Cccropia 

 and the brilliant yellow flowers of Gaiodcndron, a tree related to the 

 mistletoe. The real forest begins at Aina, a small settlement at which 

 headquarters were established for a few days. The trail to this point 

 is fairly good, but from Aina to Kimpitiriki it is merely a succession of 

 decaying logs, half-fallen bridges, and deep mudholes. Animal life 

 was scarce, though the numerous wounds on the backs of the mules 

 each morning showed that vampire bats were abundant in this region. 

 Kimpitiriki, a Franciscan mission, was the farthest point reached 

 by the expedition in this part of the country, and from here we retraced 

 our route to Huanta, Huancayo. and Tarma. From Tarma we pro- 



