Chap. XIII. TEMPERATURE AT SANDIA. 231 



in their ccepis, and got up a fire of dry sticks with great 

 rapidity. I had a delicious bath in the river, where the tall 

 forest trees overshadowed the water on either side. At 

 night the moon streamed its floods of light over the forest, 

 and the brilliant sparks from myriads of fire-flies shone 

 from the trees in every direction up the side of the opposite 

 mountain ; but in the early morning the sky clouded over, 

 and a heavy drizzling rain began to fall, which prevented 

 sleep, and made us wish for day. 



From this encampment our way led up the precipitous 

 sides of the mountain, to the grassy pajonales Avhich divide 

 the valleys of Sandia and Tambopata ; but I mil here halt 

 awliile to give a brief accoimt of the cultivation of that plant, 

 of which we had lately seen so much, and which enabled 

 me to^ ascend the mighty passes of the Andes on foot with 

 ease and comfort — the strength-giving, invigorating coca. 



A general geographical description of all this country has 

 been given in the preceding chapter. 



Dui'ing my stay at Sandia the indications of the ther- 

 mometer were as follows, between the 20th and 25th of 

 April : — 



Mean temperature 63^" 



Minimum temperature at night . . 50^ 



Highest observed G5 



Lowest 47 



Kange 18 



