214 The Andes and the Amazon. 



and when this had spread to the zenith we heard the rush 

 of a mighty wind sweeping through the forest, and the 

 crash of falling trees, and then down fell the dehige. The 

 Indians have a saying that " the path of the sun is the 

 path of the storm." These storm-clouds moved rapidly, 

 for in half an hour all was quiet on the Napo. At Quito, 

 two hundred miles west, the usual afternoon shower occurs 

 two hours later. To-day we enjoyed our last glimpse of 

 the Andes. Far away across the great forest we had trav- 

 ersed we could see the beautiful cone of Cotopaxi and the 

 flat top of Cayambi standing out in proud pre-eminence. 

 Long will it be ere we forget this farewell view of the 

 magnificent Cordillei-a. 



