108 HisjoRY or 



" The raggedness of the road from Teriguagua, leading up 

 the mountain, is not easily described. In some parts the de 

 clirity is so great, thnt the mules can scarcely keep their looting ; 

 and in others, the acclivity is equally difficult. The trouble of 

 having people going before to mend the road, the pains arising 

 from the many falls and braises, and the being constantly wet 

 to the skin, might be supported, were not these inconveniences 

 augmented by the sight of such frightful precipices, and deep 

 "bysses, as must fill the mind with ceaseless terror. There are 

 s ome places where the road is so steep, and yet so narrow, that 

 the mules are obliged to slide down, without making any use of 

 their feet whatt>oever. On one side of the rider, in this situa- 

 tion, rises an eminence of several hundred yards ; and on the 

 other, an abyss of equal depth ; so that if he in the least checks 

 his mule so as to destroy the equilibrium, they both must una- 

 voidably perish. 



" After having travelled about nine days in this manner,' slowly 

 winding along the side of the mountain, we began to find the 

 whole country covered with a hoar frost ; and a hut, in which 

 we lay, had ice on it. Having escaped many perils, we at length, 

 after a journey of fifteen days, arrived upon the plain, on the 

 extremity of which stands the city of Quito, the capital of 

 one of the most charming regions upon earth. Here, in the 

 centre of the torrid zone, the heat is not only very tolerable, but 

 in some places the cold also is painful. Here they enjoy all 

 the temperature and advantages of perpetual spring ; their fields 

 being always covered with verdure, and enamelled with flowers 

 of the most lively colours^ However, although this beautiful 

 region be higher than any other country in the world, and al- 

 though it took up so many days of painful journey in the ascent, 

 it is still overlooked by tremendous mountains ; their sides 

 covered with snow, and yet flaming mth volcanoes at the top. 

 These seemed piled one upon the other, and rise to a most 

 astonishing height, with great coldness. However, at a deter- 

 mined point above the surface of the sea, the congelation is 

 found at the same height in all the mountains. Those parts 

 wtich are not subject to a continual frost, have here and there 

 growing upon them a rush, resembling the genista, but much 

 more soft and flexible. Towards the extremity of the part where 

 the rush grows, and the cold begins to increase, is found a vege- 



