TO THE CINCHONA FORESTS 265 



before reaching the zone where these genera grow in the greatest 

 luxuriance, and at less than 2000 feet below the Arenal, we came 

 on the first tree, a Polylepis (allied to our common burnet), form- 

 ing groves here and there along the declivity. The bark of this 

 tree resembles that of the birch in colour, and in its peeling off 

 in flakes ; but if one could suppose an arborescent Acm-na, it 

 would give a better idea of the pinnate silvery foliage. On the 

 opposite side not of Chimborazo, which is bare of trees, but of 

 its sister mountain Carguairazo a Buddleia approaches nearest 

 the snow-line. In descending the same side of the Cordillera, 

 towards Pallatanga, ten leagues south of Chimborazo, a Podo- 

 carpus and a Berberis ascend higher than any other tree, while a 

 Polylepis (distinct from that of Chimborazo) ceases 1000 feet 

 below them. On Chimborazo, on the contrary, the same Podo- 

 carpus fails a long way below the first-mentioned Polylepis. An 

 accurate discrimination of the species is therefore needed, before 

 we can compare their climatal distribution. 



Still descending, various other trees began to appear, such as 

 Buddleiae, Myrcias, and especially an Araliacea, called from its 

 large palmate leaves (which are hoary beneath) Puma-maqui or 

 tiger's paw. Here and there the track rounded the heads of 

 qucbradas, deep and dark, and'full of low trees, which were laden 

 with mosses. 



At about half-way down we came out on a narrow grassy ridge, 

 i 'a lied the Ensillada (Saddleback), where several long low straw huts 

 had been recently erected for the accommodation of the soldiery 

 when marching that way. As we neared the encampment, four 

 raw-looking youths armed with lances rushed out and confronted 

 us, demanding our passports. We had none to show, but our 

 antagonists did not look very formidable, and a shot from one of 

 our revolvers would probably have put them to flight, had I not 

 been furnished with a weapon which I have found far safer and 

 more efficacious in such contingencies, namely, a bottle of strong 

 aguardiente, a taste of which dispelled all opposition to our pro- 

 gress, and also served to induce the guardians of the pass to I mil 

 us water lor making coffee. 



Below the ICnsillada we came on steeply inclined strata "I 

 schists, across and down which we went on stumbling for at least 

 a couple of hours ; for, as the track runs over their proje< ting ;md 

 ja^-ed ed-es, which no pains have been taken to smooth down, 

 we passed them not without inconvenience and danger. At this 

 stage of our journey we became' enveloped in cloud, which lill. d 

 all the valley of (Inaranda, so that we could thenceforth only 

 discern objects near at hand. 



We reached (niaranda just after nightfall, having travelled 

 eleven weary leagues from Chuquipogyo. (iuaramia is a rather 

 neat little town, with good tiled house's built of adobes, and stands 



