250 CCASA-SANI. Chai-. XV. 



to distinguish these treasures, amidst the close entanglement 

 of the undergrowth, in the dense forests. Martinez spoke 

 Spanish very imperfectly, and, without a knowledge of Qui- 

 chua, I should have found much difficulty in conversing with 

 him ; but he had a most complete and thorough knowledge 

 of all forest-lore, and was acquainted with the native name of 

 almost every plant, and with the uses to which they were or 

 might be applied. 



At dawn the Indians found the marks of a jaguar on the 

 beach close to the tent ; and a huge snake wriggled through 

 the fallen trees as we re-entered the forest. The brilliant 

 colours and great variety of butterflies were very striking. I 

 particularly noticed one, bright blue and crimson above, with 

 the underside marked with a pattern, as if drawn by a crow- 

 quill on a snow-white ground, edged with deep blue. After 

 struggling through the forest for about a mile we came to 

 the foot of the tremendous precipices, one on either side of 

 the river, which Martinez called Ccasa-sani. That on our 

 (the western) shore rises up perpendicularly from the water 

 to a height which we estimated at 500 feet, ending in a rocky 

 peak. Its sides are masses of bare polished rock, except in 

 the rear, and in some crevices, where vegetation finds a foot- 

 hold. Amongst other trees the paccay {Mimosa Ingd), Mith 

 its cottony fruit, was drooping over the bubbling waves. The 

 river, surging furiously over and around huge masses of rock, 

 dashed noisily on between the two precipices. 



We had to ascend the western precipice of Ccasa-sani by a 

 frightful kind of ladder, foi-med of ledges in the rock, or half- 

 rotten branches of trees, here and there having to cross a 

 yawning chasm on the fallen stems of tree-ferns rotting from 

 age. Near the summit we had a glorious view of the forest- 

 covered mountains, running up into sharp peaks, with graceful 

 palms rising above the other trees on their crests, and stand- 

 ing out against the sky. Several Calisaya-iree^ were growing 



