42 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



that has been occupied by man, is known as the Puna or Altos 

 of Peru. It extends through a great part of the length of Peru 

 and Bolivia, at a height of 10,000 to 14,000 feet above sea level. 

 It is that cold and rugged region which forms the broad summit 

 of the Cordillera. It has the aspect of an irregular plain and is 

 diversified with mountain ridges and snowy volcanic peaks, 

 imposing in their proportions, notwithstanding that they rise 

 from a level of 14,000 feet above the sea. Squier, who has 

 written much on South America, describing his travels through 

 its several countries, presents a very graphic picture of the Puna 

 and its ascent as follows : " Pocla is a poor but picturesque little 

 village, with a small white church gleaming out against the dull 

 brown of the bare mountain side. It is 9,700 feet above the sea. 

 Still ascending, our mules began to pant under the influence of 

 the soroche, or rarification of the air, but which the drivers 

 insisted was from the veta, or influence due to the veins of metal 

 in the earth. At La Portada, 12, GOO feet above sea level, or 

 1,000 feet higher than the Hospice of the grand St. Bernard, I 

 witnessed a scene more wild and desolate than I have beheld in 

 crossing the Alps by the routes of the Simplon, the grand St. 

 Bernard, or the St. Gothard. There is neither tree nor shrub ; 

 the frosty soil cherishes no grass, and the very lichens find scant 

 hold on the bare rocks. The native rum which I had purchased 

 for making a fire for preparing my coffee, refused to burn, and 

 extinguished the lighted match thrust into it as if it were water. 

 I was obliged to abstract some refined alcohol from my photo- 

 graphic stores to supply its place. At the pass of Guaylillos, 

 14,750 feet above the sea, one of my companions fell from his 

 saddle under the influence of the rarified air. On lifting him 

 from the ground we found him nearly senseless, with blood 

 trickling from his mouth, ears, nostrils, and the corners of his 

 eyes. Copious vomiting followed and we administered the usual 

 remedies with good effect. In doing this I drew off my gloves, 

 and was surprised to find my hands swollen and covered with 

 blood, which appeared as if it had oozed from a thousand minute 

 punctures." 



