BOUGUER S VOYAGE TO PERU. 



PART IV. 



%^7 



RETURN OF THE AUTHOR FROM QUITO TO THE NORTH SEA, BY WAY OP THE RUTER 

 MAGDALENE ; — OBSERVATIONS ON THE LOADSTONE, &C. &C. 



"ITT HEN I returned to Europe, and left Popayan, inftead of taking an immediately 

 ^^ eaft diredtion, and pafling out of the Cordelier by Guanacas, I could con- 

 tinue my way northward between the two chains of mountains, and crofs the eaftern 

 one near its extremity. The eaftern Cordelier has many ways over it. There is one 

 about forty-five leagues more to the north, which leads from Cartage to Ibague, 

 over which we muft be drawn by oxen, inftead of mules. Thefe animals have rings 

 through the cartilage of their nofes, to which are faftened leather thongs, which are 

 ufed as reins : they have more ftrength to bear the fatigue of fo oppreflive a road ; the 

 traveller is lefs expofed to being fatigued by their movements, which are flow ; and 

 befides, the feet of oxen, by their particular make, are better adapted to extricate them- 

 felves from the mires, in which are found neither any ftones, nor any folid body to pre- 

 vent them finking, I had many reafons for preferring the Pafs of Guanacas ; but what 

 induced me the more readily to make choice of it, was, being defirous of examining the 

 courfe of the river Magdalene, I was very glad to reach as foon as poffible its fliores^ 

 I had traced a map of the countries I had gone over, and I propofed to myfelf to make 

 one of thofe waflied by this river. 



It is exceedingly eafy for an obferver to determine the fituation of any place, through 

 which he is led, refpeftively, in all this part of America. It is fufficient, with the com- 

 pafs, to take the diredion of the moft diftant mountains in view. We chance, after a 

 few days, to journey at the bafe of thefe mountains, and others in the diftance prefent 

 themfelves to our fight. I found it equally eafy to afcertain the length of the way. My 

 courfe was almoft always pretty exaft to the north ; I made my way, as it almoft 

 always happens, but by fhort journeys ; when one is obliged to carry one's bed and 

 provifions along with one ; befides our batings were frequent. Sometimes we have 

 been flopped by the fudden fwelling of fome river, at others by our mules ftraying, 

 which occafioned the lofs of part of a day to find them. They are never tied to one 

 another, but left at liberty, that they may find more eafily and with lefs ri(k provender 

 in the woods, and on the brinks of the precipices : there is no better method known 

 to guard againft Jofing them, than by accuftoming them to the company of horfes, 

 which will ferve them as a guide, and will feldom wander far. I endeavoured to be- 

 nefit all I could from thefe forced batings, of which I did not always complain, by ac- 

 quiring a more perfe£l knowledge of the country. I took the latitude every time it 

 was in my power. I had a round iron plate with a hole pierced through it, by which 

 I was enabled to form a gnomon, which I fometimes raifed to eight or nine feet in 

 height by refting it upon the trunk of fome tree, or againft the pofts of my tent ; 

 when, inftead of encamping in the open field, I met with any cabin or houfe, the faci- 

 lity of the operation encreafed ; I had only to throw afide a little of the thatch, to 

 introduce my plate of iron. To avoid the error of any unevennefs of the furface which 

 commonly was not horizontal, I received the rays of the fun upon a tile or piece of 

 board ; from the fmall hole I let fall a plumb-line ; I meafured with the equal divifions 

 of a compafs of proportion, ufing a reed for my rule, two fides of a triangle, the 

 length of the ray of light which ferved for the hypothenufe, and the fhorteft diftance 



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