CHAP. II. THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHI3IB0RAZ0. 25 



slopes and sclirunds, clouds came and went ceaselessly. We 

 chcrislied the idea that we were unfortunate in the weather, 

 and that presently they would be dissipated. It took time to 

 learn that they were a great and permanent feature of the 

 mountain, due to the condensation of damp air coming from 

 the Amazonian region. 



A direct approach to the eastern summit from the side of 

 Guaranda could not be contemplated for a moment ; for the 

 glaciers streaming from the two domes fell over cliffs, and 

 above nearly perpendicular precipices of rock there rose per- 

 pendicular walls of ice, which broke away as the glaciers 

 progressed, and rolled into a basin, of which we only saw the 

 head. We could trace the grooves and scorings on the slopes 

 below made by falling bodies, and knew that we could not 

 venture there. 



Underneath the western summit, and leading nearly south- 

 west, there appeared to be a ridge coming down to the Arenal, 

 and to the west of this there was another basin, filled with 

 rather tumultuous glacier. This was succeeded by another 

 ridge, bearing on its crest a number of sharp pinnacles of 

 rock. We could only conjecture what came behind this. The 

 view was terminated on the extreme left by a very long 

 snow-slope, which seemed to be remarkably free from impedi- 

 ments, and appeared to stretch continuously almost from the 

 snow-line up to the western dome. This ridge was a considerable 

 distance away, and we could not learn whether it was possible 

 to reach its inferior end. Choice of route was narrowed to it 

 and the south-west ridge, and I gave a casting vote in favour 

 of the latter, being largely influenced in arriving at this 

 decision by the supposition that it was in this direction 

 Humboldt and Boussingault made their memorable attempts to 

 ascend the mountain. 



There was one point upon this ridge (hereafter referred to 

 as the south-west ridge of Chimborazo) which, in our united 



E 



