THE FORESTS OF ALAUSI 229 



days' journey to the forests of Jilimbi and Guanujo 

 at the western foot of Chimborazo, but to reach 

 them the Paramo de Puenevata (the northern 

 shoulder of Chimborazo) has to be passed near the 

 snow-limit, and in the months of July and August 

 it snows there almost incessantly, while the winds 

 blow with a violence unparalleled even in this windy 

 region, frequently hurling away both horse and 

 rider, who are either seen no more or their mangled 

 remains are found at the foot of some precipice. 

 Besides, only one sort of Cinchona was known to 

 exist in those forests, whereas by going a few days' 

 journey farther to the southward, to the forests 

 below Alausi, in the valley of the river Chanchan, I 

 might expect to find three sorts, and the road 

 thither nowhere ascends above 12,000 feet. So the 

 latter plan was finally adopted, and on the 2 2nd of 

 July I sallied forth from the pleasant town of 

 Ambato (8500 feet) along the narrow " callejon ' 

 (lane) which separates the eastern from the western 

 branch of the Cordillera. My company comprised 

 five horses and mules, one mounted by myself, 

 another by my servant, and the remaining three 

 laden with my baggage, consisting of drying-paper, 

 clothing and bedding, and a copious supply of tea, 

 coffee, and sugar articles rarely to be met with in 

 a country where there are no inns, and where the 

 inhabitants with few exceptions use no other 

 beverage than aguardiente and sour chicha. An 

 arriero took charge of the beasts of burden. 



Our first day's stage to Riobamba was a long 

 one, I2r, Columbian leagues (about 40 English 

 miles). The first five leagues, reaching to the 

 village of Mocha, are along a very gradual ascent, 



