CH. xix IN THE ECUADOREAN ANDES 203 



In my last excursion to Tunguragua I was obliged 

 to leave several things because I had no paper to 

 put them in. I have just returned from Riobamba, 

 after a stay there of nearly a month with Dr. Taylor. 

 Like Ambato, it stands in the midst of sandy deserts 

 where hardly any vegetation is visible save the 

 fences of Agave and Cactus and the common weeds 

 that grow in their shelter. I made a desperate 

 attempt to get in at the southern side of Tunguragua, 

 where there is a magnificent waterfall (Huandis- 

 agua) which comes down from the very snow at three 

 leaps into the warm valley of Capil full 8000 feet ; 

 for this purpose I moved to Penipe, about four 

 leagues east of Riobamba, and from thence reached 

 the cataract in an excursion of fourteen hours. But 

 what with alternately wading in the cold snow- 

 water and climbing up cliffs in a burning sun, I 

 was confined to bed for four days afterwards with 

 fever and rheumatic pains from head to foot. The 

 worst was that, so dried up was the forest with the 

 protracted summer, I did not get a single plant 

 in good state. The weather is still dry, and until 

 the rains come there will be no herborising ; but I 

 am occupied in arranging and packing my Barios 

 collections, which I hope to dispatch to Guayaquil 

 in June. In May I ought to revisit Banos to 

 procure plants of two fine Orchises I found on 

 Tunguragua. 



I should be very glad to return to England, as 

 you recommend me, to distribute my mosses, but I 

 am fearful of again falling into delicate health if I 

 go there. I have, besides, no funds beyond what 

 are in your hands; these would soon be exhausted, 

 and poverty is such a positive crime in England, 



