ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 43 1 



fubfequent ftations, yet we were extremely incommoded by the velocity of the winds^ 

 which were fo violent that it was difficult to (land ; and, notwithflanding the bed flielter 

 poflible to be procured, we often found it very difficult to keep the inftrument fleady ; 

 which, of confequence, greatly increafed the difficulty of making the obfervations with, 

 the neceflary accuracy. 



V. — Signal on the Mountain of Tanlagua. 



On the 1 2th of February we afcended the mountain of Tanlagua ; and having the 

 next day finilhed our obfervations, returned. If this mountain be but fmall in com- 

 parifon of others in this Cordillera, and thus faved us the many inconveniencies of a 

 lofty flation, yet the fleepnefs of its fides put us to no fmall difficulty, there being no 

 other poffible method of going up than by climbing ; and the greateft care is requilite 

 in fixing the hands and feet clofe and firm ; nor is it poffible to climb it in leis than 

 four hours. The defcent, as may naturally be concluded, is little lefs hazardous, as 

 you muft fit and Hide d'own much the greater part of it ; and this mufl be done gently^ 

 left, by celerity of motion, you tumble down the precipice. 



VI. — Signal on the Plain of Changalli. 



On the 1 7th of March we removed to the fignal of Changalli, and finiihed the ne* 

 cefTary obfervations on the 20th. We fpent the time here very comfortably. The 

 fignal was erefted on a plain, where neither the air nor weather molefted us ; and be- 

 ing lodged in a farm-houfe near the fignal, and not far from the town of Pintac, we 

 had all the neceffary conveniencies of life, the want of which we often feverely felt in 

 the deferts. Thefe comforts did not, however, in the leafl abate our diligence to avail 

 ourfelves of every inftant when the fignals on the mountains were not concealed ia 

 clouds. But one circumftance which lengthened our ftay was, that fome of the fignals 

 were wanting, having been blown down by the wind ; it was therefore refolved, that 

 for the future the field-tents fhould ferve for fignals. And, accordingly, we afterwards 

 conftantly purfued this method. 



VII. — Signal on the Defert of Pucaguaico, on the Side of the Mountain Catopaxi. 



This mountain we afcended the 21ft of March, and on the 4th of April were obliged 

 to return, after in vain endeavouring to finifh our obfervations. For, not to mention 

 our own fulFerings, the froft and fnow, together with the winds, which blew fo vio- 

 lently that they feemed endeavouring to tear up that dreadful volcano by its roots, ren- 

 dered the making obfervations abfolutely impracticable. Such is indeed the rigour of 

 this climate, that the very beafts avoid it ; nor could our mules be kept at the place 

 where we, at firft, ordered the Indians to take care of them ; fo that they were obliged 

 to wander in fearch of a milder air, and fometimes to fuch a diftance that we had onen 

 no fmall trouble in finding them. 



At Pucaguaico we however faw the neceffity of either erefting the fignal further to 

 the fouth, or fetting up another in the intermediate fpace. Several confultations were 

 held, to determine on the beft method ; but, as other things were neceffary to be done 

 before we came to a conclufion, the operations were fufpended, and the interval fpent 

 in making obfervations on the velocity of found, and other phyfical fubje6ls. Every 

 thing being ready for renewing our operations, we a fecond time afcended Pucaguaico 



oa 



