DESERTS OF COTOPAXI. 191 



In those dreary regions, in the wildest tracts of 

 stone and sand, beside the mountain of Cotopaxi, 

 a beautiful natural phenomenon occasionally re- 

 lieves the melancholy excited by the hideous 

 roaring of the mountain, and the mournful 

 sound of the gusty winds that sweep across the 

 desert. Ulloa noticed this appearance at the break 

 of day, when the mountain on which he stood 

 was encompassed with thick clouds, till the rising 

 sun dispersed them into vapour. Suddenly ap- 

 peared on the opposite side to that where the sun 

 rose, the image of Don Ulloa and his companions, 

 within three concentric rainbows, all of different 

 colours, and bounded with an arch entirely white. 

 They were perpendicular to the horizon, and as each 

 individual moved, the phenomenon moved also in 

 the same direction and order. The party consisted of 

 six persons, and each one discerned the glory with 

 which his image was enveloped, though he saw not 

 that which equally distinguished the others. As 

 the sun ascended, the diameter of the arches gradu- 

 ally began to change; till at length the beautiful 

 vision disappeared. 



Wild Asses are common in the magnificent and 

 varied scenery which the lamas inhabit. They 

 are most numerous around the village of Mira, in 

 Peru, and hunters frequently go forth in pursuit of 

 them, mounted on horses trained for the sport, and 

 attended by Indians on foot. When arrived at the 

 hunting grounds, they form a circle around the herd, 

 and drive them towards the nearest valley, in order 

 to noose and halter them. But this is attended 

 with considerable difficulty, for the wild ass is a 



