146 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 



June 24.- -This morning in less than an hour we 

 reached a narrow but rather deep rocky stream, 

 remarkably like so many others in the Montana of 

 Canelos for its crystalline water. We crossed it 

 near its junction with the Pastasa, on the banks of 

 which and above its mouth rise lofty cliffs from the 

 river's edge, to avoid which it is necessary to 

 climb over the most formidable mountain on the 

 whole route, named Abitagua, and perhaps 6000 

 feet high. It was near midday when we reached 

 the summit. At something more than half-way 

 up is a puesto (resting-place) called Masato, 

 whence there is a view down the valley of the 

 Pastasa, extending, it is said, in clear weather 

 even to the Maranon. I could distinguish the 

 water of the river Pastasa apparently a little below 

 Andoas, but beyond this the sky was too hazy to 

 make out anything. From Masato upwards the 

 ascent is painful steep, rugged bits alternating 

 with flats of mud, sometimes over the knees. On 

 the top is a long narrow plain, where the intervals 

 between the trees are occupied by loose mud. At 

 the western extremity of the plain is a small open 

 dryish space where a cross has been erected. 

 From this site the heights of Patati and Guay- 

 rapata in the Sierra are visible, as are also the 

 much nearer ridges running from Llanganati 

 between the Topo and the Shuna. From the 

 cross there is a steep short descent, and then 

 another long muddy level, about midway of which, 

 and a little to the right of the track, there is a 

 hollow filled with clear cold water in fact, it may 

 be called a lagoon, though there are mounds here 

 and there on it with trees, true Vaccinia, etc., on 



