THE EARTH. 65 



country covered with a hoar frost : and a hut, in which we lay, nad 

 ice on it. Having escaped many perils, we at length, after a journey 

 of fifteen days, arrived upon the plain, on the extremity of which 

 stands the city of Quito, the capital of one of the most charming re- 

 gions upon earth. Here, in the centre of the torrid zone, the heat is 

 not only very tolerable, but in some places the cold also is painful. 

 Here they enjoy all the temperature and advantages of perpetual 

 ?i>ring ; their fields being always covered with verdure, and enamel- 

 led with flowers of the most lively colours. However, although this 

 beautiful region be higher than any other country in the world, and 

 although it took up so many days of painful journey in the as- 

 cent, it is still overlooked by tremendous mountains ; their sides cover- 

 ed with snow, and yet flaming with volcanoes at the top. These 

 seemed piled one "ipon the other, and rise to a most astonishing, 

 height, with great cujdness. However, at a determined point above 

 the surface of the sea, the congelation is found at the same height in 

 all the mountains. Those parts which are not subject to a continual 

 frost, have here and there growing upon them a rush, resembling the 

 genista, but much more soft and flexible, Towards the extremity 

 of the part where the rush grows, and the cold begins to increase, is 

 found a vegetable, with a round bulbous head, which, when dried, be- 

 comes of amazing elasticity. Higher up. the earth is entirely bare 

 of vegetation, and seems covered with eternal snow. The most re- 

 markable mountains are, that of Cotopaxi (already described as a vol- 

 cano,) Chimborazo, and Pichincha. Cotopaxi is more than three 

 geographical miles above the surface of the sea : the rest are not 

 much inferior. On the top of the latter was my station for measuring 

 a degree of the meridian ; where I suffered particular hardships, from 

 the intenseness of the cold, and the violence of the storms. The sky 

 around was, in general, involved in thick fogs, which, when they clear- 

 ed away, and the clouds, by their gravity, moved nearer to the surface 

 of the earth, they appeared surrounding the foot of the mountain, at 

 a vast distance below, like a sea, encompassing an island in the midst 

 of it. When this happened, the horrid noises of tempests were heard 

 from beneath, then discharging themselves on Quito, and the neigh- 

 bouring country. I saw the lightnings issue from the clouds, and heard 

 the thunders roll far beneath me. All this time, while the tempest 

 was raging below, the mountain top, where I was placed, enjoyed a 

 delightful serenity ; the wind was abated ; the sky clear ; and the en- 

 livening rays of the sun moderated the severity of the cold. How- 

 ever, this was of no very long duration, for the wind returned with all 

 its violence, and with such velocity as to dazzle the sight ; whilst my 

 fears were increased by the dreadful concussions of the precipice, and 

 the fall of enormous rocks ; the only sounds that were heard in this 

 frightful situation." 



Such is the animated picture of these mountains, as given us by 

 this ingenious Spaniard : and I believe the reader will wish that I had 

 made The quotation still longer. A passage over the Alps, or a jour- 

 ney across the Pyrennees, appear petty trips or excursions in the con>- 

 |>a*ison; and yet these are the most lofty mountains we know of in 

 Europe. 



VOL. f. K 



