90 PAMPA DE CONFITAL. Chap. VI. 



tion from sorochi, which I certainly endured to its fullest 

 extent. Before arriving at Apo, a violent pressure on the 

 head, accompanied by acute pain, and aches in the back of 

 the neck, caused great discomfort, and these symptoms in- 

 creased in intensity during the night at the Apo post-house, 

 so that at three a.m., when we recommenced our journey, I 

 was unable to mount my mule without assistance. 



A ride of seven hours across grassy plains covered with 

 herbage, with patches of snow here and there, and i-anges of 

 hills with fine masses of rocks, forming a setting to the dis- 

 tant peaks of the cordillera, brought us to the post-house 

 of Pati. Dui'iug this ride we had to ford the river, which 

 flows past Arequipa as the Chile, more than a dozen 

 times. The only living creatures are the lecca-leceas, a bird 

 which frequents the numerous streams, and the graceful 

 flocks of vicunas. The lecca-lecca is a large plover, with red 

 legs, white head, grey body, white under the breast and tail, 

 and wings and tail broadly edged with black. It incessantly 

 utters a wild shrill scream. The vicunas, a species of llama 

 with the habits of an antelope, are very beautiful and graceful 

 creatures. They have rich fawn-coloured coats, with patches 

 of white across the shoulders and inside the legs, and long 

 slender necks. They are constantly met with in the most 

 desolate parts of the cordillera, browsing on the tender shoots 

 of the tufts oiychu, or galloping along with their noses close 

 to the ground, as if they were scenting out the best pasture. 



At Pati a range of abrupt porphyritic cliffs rises from the 

 plain, up which a rough zigzag pass leads to the " Pampa de 

 Confital," ^ the loftiest part of the road over this pass of the 

 cordillera. A storm of hail began to fall, which turned into 

 snow as we reached the pampa, and a ride of many hours 

 over a succession of wild desolate plains, in an incessant snow- 



1 So called from being coveivil with small round pebbles, like comfits. 



