282 JOURNEY FROM SANDIA Chap. XVII. 



grassy hills covered with flocks of sheep, with shepherd-lads 

 playing on pincullus, or flutes, the sound of which came 

 floating pleasantly on the air, from every direction far and 

 near. We passed several blue mountaiu-lakes, with islands 

 of rushes, and many ducks. From 10 a.m. until sunset the 

 whole day was occupied in crossing a vast plain covered 

 with sheep and cattle, and just after simset we reached a 

 small estmida or sheep-farm. It was occupied by a large 

 family of good-tempered Indians, whose eyes glistened Avhen 

 I offered them a cesto of coca which I had with me, in 

 exchange for unlimited supplies of milk and cheese. It was 

 pleasant to see their happiness at the acquisition of this 

 treasure, which was shared by the children and dogs. The 

 place Avas full of guinea-pigs, which are considered great 

 delicacies. The extreme hunger from which I had suffered 

 since leaving Sandia was here relieved by plenty of milk, 

 cheese, and parched maize. Every night I had wrapped the 

 Kussian mats, which enveloped the plants, in warm ponchos, 

 and the tent. The crooked wriggling quenua-branches, which 

 formed the roof of the hut, looked like snakes in the dim 

 light after sunset. 



At sunrise on IMay 21st there was a white frost, and the 

 deep blue sky was without a single cloud. Suddenly an im- 

 mense flock of flamingos, called 'parihuanm^ in Quichua, rose 

 in a long column from the margin of the river of Azangaro, 

 which flows through the plain. These birds, with their crim- 

 son wings, and rose-colom-ed necks and bodies, whirring up 

 in a long spiral column, formed one of the most beautiful 

 sights I ever saw. 



Crossing a range of rocky hills, we entered a plain, which 

 extended to the banks of a large lake, with the little town of 



2 Hence the name of the Penivian I Vega, Coimn. Real. i. lib. iii. cap. ix. p. 

 piuvince of Parinacochas. Farihuaua- \ 83. 

 rocha, Ihe Flamingo lake. — G. do la | 



