THE VEGETATION OF THE PUNA 25 



and nausea. They frequently show themselves even in those 

 who ride, but in a much greater degree when the traveller 

 ascends the mountains on foot. Their intensity increases with 

 the elevation, and is aggravated by a lassitude, which augments 

 to such a degree as to render walking impossible, by a great 

 difficulty of respiration, and violent palpitation of the heart. 

 Absolute rest mitigates the symptoms ; but on continuing the 

 journey they reappear with increased violence, and are then 

 frequently accompanied by fainting and vomiting. • The capil- 

 lary vessels of the eye, nose, and lips burst, and emit drops of 

 blood. The same phenomenon appears also in the mucous 

 membrane of the respiratory and digestive organs ; so that 

 blood-spitting and bloody diarrhoea frequently accompany the 

 Veta, and are sometimes so violent as to cause death. 



The influence of diminished atmospheric pressure shows 

 itself also in the horses that are unaccustomed to mountain 

 travelling. They begin to pace more slowly, frequently stand 

 still, tremble all over, and fall upon the ground. If not allowed to 

 rest, they invariably die. By way of a restorative their nos- 

 trils are slit open, which seems to be of use by allowing a greater 

 influx of air. Mules and asses are less subject to the Veta than 

 horses, but cats are affected by it in the highest degree. These 

 animals are unable to live at a height of 13,000 feet above 

 the level of the sea, and die in the most violent convulsions. 



Another consequence of the diminished pressure of the air 

 in the Puna is, that water begins to boil at so low a tem- 

 perature that neither eggs, potatoes, nor meat can be suffi- 

 ciently boiled ; and that whoever wishes to eat a warm dinner 

 in the Puna is obliged to have it baked or roasted. 



As the dry sand of the rainless coast prevents the putrefaction 

 of animal substances which are buried in it, the power of the dry 

 Puna-winds in a like manner arrests the progress of decom- 

 position. Under their influence, a dead mule changes in a few 

 days into a mummy, so that even the entrails do not exhibit the 

 least sign of putrefaction. 



It may easily be imagined that, under these peculiar atmo- 

 spheric influences, vegetation can only appear in stunted pro- 

 portions, and indeed the Puna presents the monotonous aspect 

 of a northern steppe, its whole surface being covered with dun 

 and meagre herbage, which at all times gives it an autumnal 



