88 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



having it removed to some distance, where, doubtless, 

 the condors made a savoury meal. 



We were not curious to inquire too particularly 

 what animal had supplied the material for our evening 

 repast. It was enough that the skill of the Chinese boy 

 who acted as cook had converted it into a very eatable 

 dish. The work of the establishment seemed to be 

 conducted altogether by two boys — the Chinese cook 

 and a young German who acted as waiter. It was 

 curious to notice that the intercourse between the two 

 was carried on in English, or what passed as such. 

 On many another occasion during my journey I 

 observed the same thing. Throughout America, and 

 I believe that the same is true in most countries out 

 of Europe, English has become the lingua franca, the 

 general medium of communication between people of 

 different nationalities. 



Having felt perfectly well all day, and inclined to 

 believe that the discomforts of the previous night had 

 arisen from some accidental cause, we had no hesita- 

 tion in renewing the arrangement for an excursion to 

 the Tnnnel en la cima, and the Chilian commandant 

 readily promised to send two horses, with a soldier 

 who was to act as guide and escort, at seven o'clock on 

 the following morning. Rather late, after some hours' 

 work in laying out the plants collected during the 

 day, I lay down to sleep, but in a short time awoke 

 with a severe headache, accompanied by ineffectual 

 nausea, the light supper being already digested. It 

 was an undoubted case of mountain-sickness, which 

 had to be borne through the sleepless dark hours until 

 daylight summoned us to rise. As on the previous 



