6o 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



VOL. 'J'] 



weeks was made from Guayaquil to Santa Rosa by l)oat and by mule 

 to Portovelo, a gold mine in cbarge of Americans, to Loja, the 

 southernmost town of importance in Ecuador, and then north through 

 Cuenca, the third city in size, and on to Huigra. A short journey of 

 four days was made into the Oriente from Ambato to Bafios and 

 on to Cashurco near ]\Iera. The last collecting was done on the great 

 peak of Chimborazo, ascending to snow line at about 16,000 feet. 



Leaving Guayaquil October 11, Callao was reached October 17. 

 In Peru two chief regions were visited, the first being the central 

 plateau east of Lima. A railroad runs from Lima to Oroya (12,000 

 feet) and north to Cerro de Pasco (14,300 feet). This road is a 



Fig. 70. — Atocsaico Ranch, near Junin, Central Peru. The ranch is on the 

 great central plateau at about 13,000 feet and is mainly devoted to sheep- 

 raising. The region lies above tree line, but provides excellent grazing. 



marveloiLS piece of engineering, going over a pass at nearly 16,000 

 feet, and provided with numerous timnels, bridges, and switchbacks. 

 A side trip was made down the east side to Colonia Perene, a cofifee 

 plantation at 2,000 feet, and another to the Atocsaico Ranch, near 

 Junin, at 13,000 feet, where there is excellent grazing the year 

 around for 35,000 sheep and 1,100 cattle. Cerro de Pasco, on account 

 of the altitude, is a cold bleak place. Here grows the curious moss 

 grass (AciacJwc piilriiiata), covering" entire hills with hard compact 

 rounded tussocks. From here a trip was made to La Quinhua, a gold 

 mine at a lower altitude, and another to Goyllarisquisca, a coal mine, 

 also at a somewhat lower altitude, where the collecting was very good. 



