DOWN THE COAST OF PERU 271 



neared La Paz, the great mountains of Illimani, Murarata, 

 and Huana Potosi loomed constantly more lofty and for- 

 bidding before us. They are the patriarchs of the Bolivian 

 Andes, and are twenty-two thousand five hundred and 

 eighty-one, twenty-one thousand, and twenty thousand 

 two hundred and eighty-nine feet high respectively. The 

 summits of all three have been reached by venturesome 

 exploration-parties, but the task of climbing the steep, 

 slippery slopes perpetually covered with deep snow and 

 swept by frigid gales is a trying one that is not often at- 

 tempted. Huana Potosi, the more distant of the group 

 has a flat top, contrasting conspicuously with the sharp, 

 pointed summits of the other two. The Indians tell a legend 

 that explains this peculiar formation. In the days of long 

 ago, when the world was young, vapors enveloped all the 

 earth; suddenly the sun-god appeared and, beaming down 

 from heaven, caused the mists to become dissipated and 

 vanish. Illimani awoke to life and from his dizzy height 

 beheld the queenly Huana Potosi smiling up at him. At 

 the same time, however, Murarata emerged from the clouds 

 and beholding the beautiful Huana Potosi fell violently 

 in love with her. Illimani became insanely jealous and 

 in a blind fury hurled forth fire, smoke, and stones of great 

 size at his rival's head; the latter promptly replied in 

 kind and fought valiantly. For days the earth quaked and 

 trembled with the thunderous roar of the death-struggle, 

 while heavy clouds covered the terrifying spectacle with 

 a mantle of darkness. After a seemingly endless time the 

 combat stopped; daylight returned, revealing an appalling 

 state of affairs. Finding it impossible to vanquish the rival 

 suitor, Illimani had beheaded his fair lady-love to prevent 

 her from falling into the other's hands. The many streams 

 of water rushing down the steep sides of Illimani are but 

 the tears of grief and remorse over his hasty action; thus he 

 is doomed to mourn and weep until the end of time. The 

 legend has doubtless been handed down through many gen- 

 erations and obviously refers to one of the many volcanic 



