105 



feature of the mesa on the way from Boeoyna is the great Barranca of the 

 Urique river; one approaches it through level forest to the very edge of 

 the chasm, where it hends suddenly from B. N. E. to S. S. W. The sides 

 are a series of vertical precipices, formed by the edges of the different 

 lava flows, connected by steep slopes of detritus covered with vegetation 

 suited to the elevation; for the descent to the stream being 4500 feet, ba- 

 nanas, oranges, and cacti will grow at the bottom wherever there is room 

 for them, while there is frost nearly every night on the top; and yet a sto- 

 ne dropped from the edge of the mesa would, in many places, fall and roll 

 all the way to the river. Further up, the canon contracts to a chasm so na- 

 rrow that it could be bridged at the top, but here it is a couple of miles 



wide. ■ { m 



Here and there in this region one comes across cave-dwellings of Ta-, 

 rahumari Indians, a primitive race of fine physique; they are of a dark cop- 

 per red colour, with long coarse black hair reaching to the shoulder, and 

 confined by a fillet round the forehead. They are very shy and retiring, 

 living by their own tribal customs, and making their own pottery, clo- 

 thing, and arms, without intercourse with white men. As they are not a 

 warlike race, their continued existence and individuality is due to the ex- 

 treme inaccessibility and poverty of the country; but in power of endu- 

 ring cold and fatigue, and performing very long marches with no pro- 

 vision but a little parched corn, few hill tribes could compete with them. 

 After passing the Cerro de Coroibo the track visits some large caves on 

 a high part of the mesa where water can always be found; elsewhere the 

 sources are so far apart that it is desirable to have a guide with local know- 

 ledge, to avoid the discomfort of a waterless camp; forage is also so scar- 

 ce that corn must be carried for the mules. There is a numerous group of 

 grotesque rock-pillars near this place. 



The ground here commences to slope down with a more broken hi- 

 lly surface towards the tierras templadas. at an elevation of 5000 to G0C0 

 feet; the tongues of table-land reaching out between river valleys are ca- 

 lled cordones, and their level tops enjoy a delightful and invigorating cli- 

 mate; temperate crops and fruits do well here, and the little towns were gay 

 with peach blossoms in March. 



Leaving Temoris, a place on the right side of the Septentrion river, 

 we descend to a small ranche at the bottom of the valley, where an arti- 

 ficial water-course irrigates some terraces planted with oranges; there is 

 hardly any level ground, fort the steep sides of the V-shaped valley near- 

 ly everywhere sweep directly into the stream. Here, mineral veins, which 

 are uncommon in the upper trachyte beds, begin to appear, and there is a 

 large mine close by at Realito. Now, ascending to the crest of the left 

 bank at Pandura, the first view of the foot hills is obtained; they lie ex- 



Revista [1900-1901]— H. 



