Antisana. 145 



the highest human habitations in the world, being thirteen 

 thousand three hundred feet above the sea, or a thousand 

 feet higher than the Peak of Teneriffe.* The mean tem- 

 perature is the same as that of Quebec, so that thirteen 

 thousand feet in elevation at the equator is equal to 47° 

 in latitude. t Here is an extensive corral, inclosing thou- 

 sands of cattle, owned by a rheumatic old gentleman, Senor 

 Valdevieso, who supplies the beef -market of Quito.:}: A 

 desire for beef has alone brought man and his beast to this 

 chilly altitude. It is difficult to get a quart of milk, and 

 impossible to lind a pound of butter at this hacienda. The 

 predominant colors ot ciie cattle are red and black. They 

 feed on the wild paramo grass, and the beef is not only re- 

 markably cheap, but superior in quality. The lasso is used 

 in catching the animals, but not so skillfully as by the 

 Gauchos of Rio Plata. It is a singular fact that cattle 

 ha\^e followed men over the whole earth, fi-om the coast of 

 Africa to the highlands of Antisana. The same species is 

 attacked by crocodiles and condors. 



The atmospheric pressure is here so small that they fre- 

 quently bleed at the nose and mouth when hunted. We 

 have already given oui experience in ascending high alti- 

 tudes. We may add that while the pulse of Boussingault 

 beat 106 pulsations at the height of 18,600 feet on Chim- 

 borazo, ours was 87 at 16,000 feet on Antisana. De Saus- 

 sure says that a draught of liquor which would inebriate 



* M. d'Abbadie professes to have visited a village in Abyssinia (Arquiage,^ 

 which is 12,4o0 feet above the sea. Potosi stands 13,500 feet. 



t This agrees with Humboldt's calculation that a difference of elevation of 

 278 feet produces the same effect on the annual temperature as a change of 

 one degree of latitude. According to the experiments of Captain Pullen, the 

 minimum temperature of the great depths of the ocean is 35°, and it com- 

 mences soon after passing 12,000 feet. 



t The great de'pots of cattle in Ecuador are at the two extremes of eleva- 

 tion, the lowlands of St. Elena and the highlands of Antisana. On the slope 

 of Cayambi is another extensive cattle estate. 



K 



