300 
_ keenest delight, and when fatigued with col - 
lecting the immense variety of alpine plants 
that abound here, he may recline under 
the shade of enormous trees, and refresh 
himself with the contemplation of the 
splendid prospect of the snowy Andes. 
The invigorating pureness of the atmo- 
sphere gives a keen zest to his enjoyment, 
and takes away the feeling of weariness. 
But still the most noble and ever-varying 
object in the landscape is the Volcano, 
which, but a few hours distant from the 
village, rises almost every where open to 
view, clear of the neighbouring moun- 
tains. eye can never be tired of 
watching the various appearances that it 
presents, as these are diversified by the 
light that breaks upon it in different direc- 
tions, and as the external phenomena be- 
tray the violent action that takes place 
within, 
Sometimes a volume of the blackest 
smoke darts upwards from its crater, from 
which the ignited masses are propelled as 
by the force of a cannon, and with the 
greatest rapidity, into the calm blue sky: 
at other times this mass curls quietly up, 
the calm white clouds resting on the mouth 
of the volcano, and attesting its internal 
The aspect of this mountain is 
ever new, but at no time perhaps so 
interesting as when the sun rises behind 
it, gilding its regular outline, or when 
the evening beams yet linger on its sum- 
mit, long after they have quitted the valley 
of Antuco. Even when storms sweep 
round its foot,“and the atmosphere remains 
calm on the low ground, the view is still 
interesting and glorious. As though it had 
victoriously struggled against the envious 
ier, its top bursts through the clouds, 
and while they form a dense fearful va- 
poury circle around it, the ‘cone appears 
distinctly outlined on the deep blue back- 
_ ground, its every indentation defined with 
the most perfect clearness. At night, the 
fiery glow that constantly hovers above the 
— reveals it through a sky heavy with 
» Süow The middle of summer, 
indeed, dissolves the snowy mantle that 
winter had left, and black and solemn, it 
ACCOUNT OF ANTUCO IN 
THE PERUVIAN ANDES. 
closes the back-ground of the pleas 
green alpine landscape; but the pa : 
storm that does not so much as exti és 
the valley, robes the volcano, even during c: 
the warm month of January, with a white — 
garment, enabling the votary of nature to - 
observe the peculiar phenomena which 
internal heat produces on this elevated 
mountain. Late in the evening, when the 
last moment of day-light has faded, the — 
glowing lava stream becomes gradually 
visible; at first a single red point appears — — 
to kindle, followed speedily by another . 
and another, till a running fire is seen in 
long stripes, branched or undivided, and | 
stretching from the crater, conveying con- 
tinually fresh streams of lava to its foot, — 
and illuminating the country for full twenty — 
miles around, till the more powerful influ- 
ence of the sun's light seems gradually to 
quench this brilliant exhibition, and restores 
the mountain to blackness and to gloom. 
—At seasons when the air is free from 
vapour, as in November and December, a 
truly magnificent spectacle may be occa- 
and the full moon has risen, a fourf 
light may be seen playing on the crater, 
in the most singular manner. t the 
moon defines its outline accurately, and 
the last lingering sun-beams light up the 
surface, the tranquil lustre of the glow 
that rises abóve the mouth, unites with the E 
glowing lava to light up the dark western 
side. And if, at the same time, some light 
produced by the light of the moon, the re- 
flection of the snow, the volcanic blaze, 
and the evening sun, are here united in 
one sublime whole. ! 
Our excursion over hill and dale, in this : 
unknown country of Alps, commenced on 
the third day. Six horses were ? 
purchased of these wine-loving Indians, 
and the keep of them costs nothing 
Antuco, where meadows of perpe v 
