Jf^ trLLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



want of the means to defray the charges neceflary in fo long a journey, and others on 

 account of their having contraded fome obligations, and were unwilling to leave the 

 country till they could difcharge them. So that in the former only the natural defire 

 of returning to their country prevailed, in order there to repofe themfelves after fuch 

 a feries of labours and hardfhips, by which the health and vigour of all were in fome 

 meafure impaired. 



CHAP. III. — The Names of the Deferts and other Places where the Signals were ere&ed 

 for forming the Series of Triangles for mcafuring an Arch of the Meridian. 



IN order to gratify the curiofity of the reader with regard to our operations, I fhall 

 mention in feparate articles, the places where each company made their obfervations, 

 and the time they were obliged to remain there ; omitting a detail of circumftances, 

 marly of which would be little more than a paraphrafe on the fubje6l of the preceding 

 <:hapter. Nor fhall I here include thofe ftationS ufed in the year 1736, after meafuring 

 the bafe of Yaruqui, both on its extremities and in the deferts of Pambamarca and 

 Yllahalo ; for the difpofition of the triangles being afterwards altered, they were 

 repeated. Therefore, confidering them as not ufed at that time, I fhall begin with 

 thofe ftations in which no fuch circumftances happened, and range them in the order 

 they were occupied. 



Deferts on which the Signals were ereEled for the Operations conduced by M. de la Conda- 



mine and myfelf 



I. — Signal on the Defert of Pichincha. 



The fignal was at firfl ereded on the higheft fummit of Pichincha, but afterwards 

 removed to another ftation at the foot of the pic ; the top having been afterwards found 

 not to be the moft proper place. We began our obfervations on this mountain on the 

 i4thof Auguft i737> but could not finifli them before the beginning of December 

 following. 



11. — The Signal on Oyambaro, the South Extremity of the Bafe of Yaruqui. 



On the 20th of December 1737, we removed to Oyambaro ; and finifhed our ob- 

 fervations necelTary to be made there on the 29th of the fame month. 



ni. — Signal on Caraburu, the Northern Extremity of the Bafe of Yaruqui. 



On the 30th of December we pafTed to Caraburu, and continued there till the 24th 

 of January 1738. This long ftay was partly occafioned by the badnefs of the weather, 

 and partly by the want of fignals. 



IV. — Signal on the Defert of Pambamarca. 



On this defert of Pambamarca, where we had before been in 1736, on finifhing the 

 meafurement at Yaruqui, a fecond Ijgnal was ere£ted here, and we went up the 26th 

 of January 1738, where we remained till the 8th of February; and though we had 

 not here the difficulties of the ice and fnow to ftruggle with, as on Pichincha and other 



fubfequent 



