288 IN THE WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA 



wide entrances on each side, situated in the centre of a 

 large banana-field. An Indian, so old that he could hardly 

 walk, lived in the hovel and refused to admit us; however, 

 we flourished our letter of introduction from the owner of 

 the premises, took possession, and remained a week. When 

 we left, the aged tenant implored us to remain, as we had 

 daily provided him with all the game he could eat, and 

 had provided him with some medicines that he greatly 

 needed. 



The climate at this season, June, was most trying. Al- 

 though the elevation is only three thousand five hundred 

 feet, the whole region was covered with fog each night, 

 and the cold and damp penetrated everything; during a 

 part of the year the weather is good, and then life in the 

 Yungas is more bearable. We had a trying time at Senor 

 Quiroga's hut, and while the pleasure of investigating a 

 new region is always intense, our joy at leaving was in this 

 particular instance vastly greater. 



There is no flat valley along the river, which is of consid- 

 erable size, and all cultivation is done on the steep moun- 

 tainsides. Coca is planted in terraces and occupies the 

 greatest acreage; then there are red bananas, plantains, 

 guavas, and sugar-cane. 



The fauna of the country seems to represent a transition 

 zone. There are birds typical of the higher country, and 

 others which are common lower down ; also, a number found 

 at approximately this altitude only. Near the house, and 

 on the edge of the banana-plantation, was a tall, isolated 

 tree. Flocks of birds, in their flight from one side of the 

 canyon to the other, would invariably alight in its branches 

 for a few minutes' rest. There were many brilliantly col- 

 ored little tanagers (Tanagra) which came to the tree in 

 considerable numbers and chirped and quarrelled as they 

 flitted about examining the leaves for insects, or reached 

 out to pick the small fruits with which the tree was cov- 

 ered; one day not less than seven species of these birds 

 visited this resort within a short time. 



