240 MOUNTAINS ABOUT THE VALLEY OF QUITO. 



crossed the western range from the Pacific, we journeyed 

 between them np the plateau. On either side, stretched 

 along the unbroken walls of the Eastern and Western 

 Cordilleras, and upon their crest, stood those ice-crowned 

 peaks, which, kindled by the sunset, seemed like beacon- 

 fires set along the darkened battlements of the sierras. 

 Often have we watched the effect of the evening sun upon 

 the snow-fields of those lofty volcanoes. As the light 

 wanes, the prismatic tints of the snowy peaks almost im- 

 pei-ceptibly blend Avith the roseate colorings of the clouds, 

 which form the background to the mountains. 'Tis an 

 arctic scene, painted with all the rich hues of the tropics. 

 Rarely does Nature so blend the elements of beauty and 

 sublimity. 



The mountains about the valley of Quito are exceeded 

 in height by several of the Chilian and Peruvian groups. 

 Chimborazo, of the Quitonian series, is surpassed by at 

 least four of those lofty peaks, if we may rely upon the 

 estimated elevation of those mountains, which is as yet 

 somewhat unsatisfactory. But the volcanoes of Qviito 

 have a deeper interest attached to them than belongs to 

 their loftier rivals, on account of their associations with 

 the labors and triumphs of the most devoted heroes of 

 science. " Wherever intellectual tendencies prevail," re- 

 flects Humboldt, " wherever a rich harvest of ideas has 

 been excited, leading to the advancement of several sci- 

 ences at the same time, fame remains, as it were, locally 

 attached for a long time." Nature seems almost without 

 expression, unless animated by human thought and achieve- 

 ment. As eternal as are the mountains of Quito, so en- 

 during will be the names Humboldt, Condamine, Bouguer, 

 and Boussingault, whose indefatigable labors among the 

 equatorial Andes have made such valuable contributions 

 to physical science. 



Of the twenty-two peaks of the Quitonian group, 



