126 HISTORY OF 



times extensive plains, and even provinces, as 

 those of Savoy and Quito, are found embosomed 

 near the tops of mountains. In general, how- 

 ever, those countries that are most mountainous, 

 are the most barren and uninhabitable. 



If we compare the heights of mountains with 

 each other, we shall find that the greatest and 

 highest are found under the line.* It is thought 

 by some, that the rapidity of the earth's motion 

 in these parts, together with the greatness of the 

 tides there, may have thrown up those stupen- 

 dous masses of earth. But, be the cause as it 

 may, it is a remarkable fact, that the inequalities 

 of the earth's surface are greatest there. Near 

 the poles, the earth, indeed, is craggy and un- 

 even enough j but the heights of the mountains 

 there are very inconsiderable. On the contrary, 

 at the equator, where nature seems to sport in 

 the amazing size of all her productions, the plains 

 are extensive, and the mountains remarkably 

 lofty. Some of them are known to rise three 

 miles perpendicular above the bed of the ocean. 



To enumerate the most remarkable of these, 

 according to their size, we shall begin with the 

 Andes, of which we have an excellent description 

 by Ulloa, who went thither by command of the 

 king of Spain, in company with the French aca- 

 demicians, to measure a degree of the meridian. 

 His journey up these mountains is too curious 

 not to give an extract from it. 



After many incommodious days sailing up the 

 river Guayaquil, he arrived at Caracol, a town 



* Buffon, passim. 



