54 EXCURSIONS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF QUITO. 
upon the snow, had laid our walking-sticks 
beside us; but they were scarcely out of 
our hands, when they descended like ar- 
rows over the frozen surface, far beyond 
any chance of recovering them. The ther- 
mometer, at the highest point of our ascent, 
stood at 34°, about two p.m. Under the 
snow at 32°. At four P. M., at the foot of 
the snow, on our return, at 42°, 
The volcano of Cotopaxi has not only 
stamped on the surrounding country the 
traces of wide-spreading and repeated de- 
solation, but may be said to have decided 
its political destiny. When Quisquio, the 
truest and ablest of the generals of Atahu- 
alpa, was preparing, in 1533, to dispute 
the dominion of Quito, with an equality of 
hopes and advantages against the Span- 
iards under Benalcara, a tremendous ex- 
plosion of the mountain was interpreted by 
his army as a sign of the fallen grandeur 
and dominion of the Incas. So the earth- 
quake of Caraccas, interpreted by super- 
stition, ruined the cause of independence 
in Venezuela. 
conquest, the following eruptions have 
been recorded. In 1593, when many In- 
dian villages were buried; in 1743, it 
rained ashes, and poured rivers of mud 
round Latacunga and the valley of Viciosa. 
Another explosion took place in 1744. 
These were witnessed by the Academi- 
cians, who measured the column of fire 
which rose from the crater to the height of 
of 2,950 feet. In 1768, it threw out such 
quantities of ashes, that Quito was dark- 
ened (April 7th) from eight A.M. to six 
P.M. In 1808, it threw out ashes and 
hot water, and the snow was melted from 
its summit. It does not appear, from a 
comparison of these dates, that any infer- 
ence can bé drawn as to the increase or 
diminution of its activity. Previous to the 
conquest, we have no series of observa- 
tions; and, in the subsequent period, it is 
propable only the more formidable explo- 
sions have been historically recorded. A 
small column of smoke is still frequently 
seen, rising from the eastern extremity of b 
Since the period of the. 
ruins exhibit not so much a se 
themselves out, there is no particular rea- 
son for supposing Cotopaxi has yet reached 
the epoch of age and decay. 
On the 24th, M. Boussingault and my- 
self, (Dr. Dasti having returned to Quito,) 
made an excursion to the Pass between 
Ruminavi and Cotopaxi, called Lempio 
pongo; and thence up the ravines of the 
volcano, to discover if obsidian formed 
any part of its products with which the 
soil is coated. We found, however, not a 
single specimen. 
On the 26th, we continued our excur- 
sion to Latacunga. This town is built on 
a porous volcanic soil, abounding in nitre, 
which has caused the erection of a powder 
manufactory. As its extent indicates, it 
once contained a population of 10,000 in- 
habitants; but destroyed by repeated earth- 
quakes and eruptions of Cotopaxi, it is 
now a city of ruins. The traveller looks 
with wonder on the massive remains of the 
Jesuits’ Church, the walls of which, in 
spite of their strength and thickness, have 
been rent into huge fragments, and heaped 
on the ground, with all their columns, 
domes, and arches, as if blown up by gun- 
powder. This sight strongly impressed 
upon us the prodigious power which must 
have heaved up and shaken the soil, to 
which this building, constructed with pe- 
culiar solidity, could offer no resistance. 
All the edifices of Latacunga, even private 
houses, are built of pumice stone, which 
when cemented with mortar, hardens into 
an homogeneous substance, incapable of 
separation. Instead of tiled roofs, vaulted 
terraces, and on the churches, domes are 
formed in the same manner; so that the 
whole building, great or small, may be 
considered, when well constructed, as cut 
out of a single stone, for which reason, the 
tion of 
parts, as a general destruction, like that of 
rocks blasted in a stone-quarry. On the 
side of the town towards the river, a mill 
is pointed out, built in this manner, which 
has resisted two earthquakes, and been 
uried under two volcanic eruptions ; but, 
it is probable, its peculiar site has contri- 
buted to its r standing on a ledge 
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