THE CHACO 389 



that one may be trapped far from camp by banks of clouds 

 which roll in unexpectedly ! The cold, penetrating mist 

 is so dense that it is impossible to distinguish objects but 

 a few yards away, and the most familiar landmarks assume 

 strange and fantastic outlines. In the event that one is 

 overtaken by this phenomenon, there is nothing to do but 

 wait until the mist lifts, which may be in a few hours, or 

 perhaps, not until the next day. Strange to say, the in- 

 hospitable paramo supports a varied fauna. Herds of wary 

 guanacos feed on the tall, wiry grass growing in the more 

 sheltered places; when alarmed, they flee to the inaccessible 

 rocky slopes. The paja, or grass, harbors also a species of 

 large tinamou, but the bird is loath to leave its safe cover, 

 for no sooner does it take wing than hawks, which are al- 

 ways hovering about, swoop down and carry it away. 



Numbers of deep ravines have been worn in the moun- 

 tainsides by water coming from the melting snows on the 

 higher peaks. These are filled with a rank growth of shrub- 

 bery. The sides are so abrupt that we could find no spot 

 where a descent was possible without the aid of a thousand 

 feet or more of rope. After a number of days, however, 

 a narrow fissure was discovered leading to one of the ravines 

 from which came faint bird-calls that we at once recognized 

 with a fair degree of certainty. On account of the high 

 altitude and tangled plant-life it was slow, tiring work to 

 follow along the bottom of the jagged gash; there was also 

 the unpleasant possibility of breaking through the matted 

 brush and falling into deep crevices among the rocks. 



As we struggled along slowly, high-pitched, whistling 

 calls rang clear and loud from numerous places near by, 

 but still it seemed as if our efforts might be of no avail; for 

 among that chaos of vegetation it was impossible to move 

 without causing great disturbance and frightening the birds 

 away. Then there recurred to us the old saying about Ma- 

 homet and the mountain and we resorted to quiet conceal- 

 ment. . 



Presently there was a crisp little chirp and a rustle among 



