Chap, V. CITY OF AREQUIPA. 75 



ing lazily in tlie upper tiir, with their keen-piercing eyes 

 watching for some luckless mule to sink under its burden, 

 were the sole representatives of animal life. 



At length our eyes were gladdened by the sight of the 

 green vale of Tiavaya, in the campina of Arequipa. The 

 rows of tall willows, the bright green fields of lucerne, and 

 white farm-houses, were a blessed relief after the monotonous 

 glare of barren rocks and sand ; but it was not until late at 

 night, and after a ride of more than fifty miles, that we 

 reached our hospitable lodging in the city of Arequipa. 



Arequipa, the second city in Peru, is built on the banks 

 of the rapid river Chile, and at the foot of the great vol- 

 cano, called Misti, which rises up in a perfect cone to the 

 height of 17,934 feet, its upper half covered with snow. 

 Arequipa itself is 7427 feet above the sea, so that the moun- 

 tains ascend in one unbroken sweep upwards of 10,500 feet. 

 The climate, during my stay from March 11th to March 

 22nd, was as follows : — 



Mean temperature 643 



Mean minimum at night 60§ 



Highest observed 67 



Lowest 58 



Range 9 



The town is built of a white stone of volcanic origin, being a 

 trachytic tuffa containing pumice and lava, dug out of quarries 

 at the foot of the volcano. The houses are usually of one story, 

 built solidly and substantially, with vaulted stone ceilings, 

 the better to resist the shocks of the frequent earthquakes. 

 Like almost all Spanish American cities, the streets are 

 straight and at right angles to each other, with an azequia 

 flowing down the centre. Wheeled vehicles of any descrip- 

 tion are imkiiown, and the traffic consists of horses, droves of 

 mules, donkeys laden with lucerne, and flocks of llamas. The 

 principal streets all lead to the great square, which forms a 



