132 



VEGETATION AND MINERALS. 



Difficulties of 

 tlic route. 



Forest and 

 plants. 



CHAP. XII among which were observed two small liliaceous plants 

 Pinnt7~ v-'ith yellow flowers, and some brambles. Mixed with 

 the latter they expected to find a wild rose, but were 

 disappointed ; nor did they subsequently meet -with a 

 smgle species of that genus in any part of South 

 America. 



Sometimes lost in the mist, they made their -way with 

 difficulty, and there being no path, they were obliged to 

 use their hands in climbing the steep and slippery ascent. 

 A vein of procelain-clay, the remains of decomposed fel- 

 spar, attracted their attention. WJienever the clouds 

 surrounded them the thermometer fell to 53-6° ; but 

 when the sky was clear it rose to 69"8°. At the height 

 of 0011 feet they saw in a ravine a wood of palms, 

 wliich formed a striking contrast Avith the willows scat- 

 tered at the bottom of the valley. 



After proceeding four hours across the pastures they 

 entered a small forest. The acclivity became less steep, 

 and they observed a profusion of rare and beautiful 

 plants. At the height of 6395 feet the savannahs ter- 

 minate, and are succeeded by a zone of shrubs, with 

 tortuous branches, rigid leaves, and large jnirple flowers, 

 consisting of rliododendra, thibaudia;, andromeda?, vac- 

 cinia, and befaria;. 



Leaving this little group of Alpine plants they again 

 found themselves in a savannah, and climbed over part 

 of the western dome, to descend into the hollow which 

 separates the two summits. Here the vegetation was so 

 strong and dense, that they were obliged to cut their 

 way through it. On a sudden the}' were enveloped in 

 a thick mist, and being in danger of coming inadvert- 

 ently upon the brink of an enormous wall of rocks, 

 Avhich on the north side descends perpendicularly to the 

 depth of more than 6000 feet, were obliged to stop. At 

 this point, however, the negroes who carried their pro- 

 visions, and who had been detained by the recreant 

 philosopher already mentioned, overtook them, when 

 they made a poor repast, tlie negroes or the padre hiv- 



