CHAPTER XV. 



CKOSSIjS'G the ANDES.* 



Bodegas. — Beneath tlie Forest. — Climbing the Cordillera. — Our Mules. — 

 Above the Clouds. — Descending Trains. — Cannino Keal. — Valley of 

 Cliimbo. — Guaranda. — Upon the Crest of the Andes. — Arenal. — The 

 Snow-line. — Dreary Eide. — Zones of Vegetation. — Coloration of 

 Flowers of High Altitudes. — Valley of Quito. — At the Foot of Chim- 

 borazo. — Mocha. — A Posada-scene. — Spanish Curiosity. — Ambato. — 

 Vespers among the Andes.— Indian Hospitality. — Latacunga. — Plain 

 of Turubamba. — Glimpse of Quito. 



At the head of low-water steamboat navigation upon 

 the Guayas is located the Indo-Spanish town of Bodegas, 

 containing about two thousand inhabitants. Here the 

 traveller obtains mules and guides for the ascent of the 

 Andes. We reached this j^lace late in the evening of the 

 first day from Guayaquil, and spent the following in se- 

 curing animals for the transit of ourselves and baggage 

 over the Cordilleras : at least one day is required to con- 

 summate the most trifling business transaction in Equa- 

 dor. Just at evening all was arranged, and we were in 

 our saddles, in high expectation of a romantic mule-ride. 

 Altogether we made i;p an interesting cavalcade. Five 

 pack-animals, laden Avith trunks, boxes, and photographic 



* * The equatorial Andes are divided into two longitudinal ranges, 

 called respectively the Eastern and Western Cordilleras : between these 

 lie the table-lands of Quito. The term Andes is sometimes applied to the 

 western ridge alone 



