PEOSTKATED BY FEVEK. 203 



night over the city to the coast, only receding before 

 the heat of mid-day, to again suspend their dark veil be- 

 tween the city and the lofty ranges of the Andes. It is 

 seldo.m that an opening rent allows a glimpse of the dizzy 

 heights of the Cordilleras. 



Desiring to secure as large collections' as possible from 

 this section, so seldom visited by naturalists, we made 

 Guayaquil our headquarters, and planned several expedi- 

 tions upon the different branches of the Guayas. Captain 

 Lee, an American, who has established steam navigation 

 upon these streams, kindly oifered us the privileges of 

 his steamers. We had but just commenced our work, 

 when we were interrupted by fever, which prostrated all 

 but one of our party. "We cannot forbear, in this con- 

 nection, mentioning our indebtedness to Dr. A. Destruge, 

 vvhose kindness and talent proved of great service to us. 

 Two weeks found us convalescent and preparing for the 

 passage of the Cordilleras. We were determined to es- 

 cape as soon as possible the heat of the tropical coast, and 

 climb the Andes to Quito, the " city above the clouds," 

 and, to the joy of travellei's, also above fevers, scorpions, 

 and mosquitoes. As heavy rains are liable to be encoun- 

 tered among the sierras, our baggage was carefully secured 

 by wrappings of tarpaulin ; while we provided ourselves 

 with ponchos and overcoats, for severe storms of sleet and 

 snow often sweep the bleak passes of the Andes. Should 

 the traveller be fortunate enough to escape these, the 

 sudden change from the sultry coast to the extreme cold 

 of the Cordilleras renders this precaution necessary. 



These preparations completed, we took passage on one 

 of the little American steamers which navigate the Guayas 

 as high as Bodegas, seventy miles above Guayaquil, from 

 which town the traveller takes to the back of mules. The 

 scenery of the Guayas is most varied and beautiful ; the 

 banks being heavily fringed with every fonn of tropical 



