TRAVELS AMONGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. iv. 



town amongst which we sauntered for recreation. One day, 

 Jean-Antoine and I came upon a tame llama, browsing by the 

 side of a lane. It was the first my companion had seen, and 

 he approached the animal to stroke its nose ; but alas, when he 

 was within a couple of yards, the gentle creature reared its 

 pretty head and spat in his face. Carrel was greatly affronted, 

 and to soothe his ruffled feelings I proposed a walk in the 

 garden of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, a shady retreat on 

 the right bank of the little river that flows through the town. 

 Presently we saw a Bishop amongst the bushes. His Lordship 

 was dressed in orange and black, and had very hairy legs. We 

 did not, however, at that time know it was a Bishop, or we should 

 have been more discreet. 

 Jean - Antoine unceremo- 

 niously clapped him on the 

 back, then gave a great 

 yell, and the Bishop flew 

 away. I conjecture that 

 Ambato has been unfortu- 

 nate in its episcopal rulers, 

 for nothing can well be 

 more stinging than the 

 charges of this insect. 



Though Louis began to improve, it was evident that a long 

 time would elapse before we could count upon his assistance, 

 and we others had to consider what we should do with our- 

 selves. Tunguragua was the nearest large mountain to Ambato, 

 and this had been already investigated by Messrs. Eeiss and 

 Stiibel.^ Altar and Sangai were too far away. After many con- 



1 Some account of Tunguragua is given in the little pamphlet by Dr. Stiibel 

 entitled Carta del Dr. Alfonso Stiibel a S. E. el Presidente de la Repuhlica, sobre 

 sus vlajes a las montanas Chimborazo, Altar, y en especial sobre siis ascensiones al 

 Tunguragua y Cotopaxi. Quito, 1873. 



Tunguragua does not keep in a state of continual activit}' like Cotopaxi and 

 Sangai, though it is by no means an extinct volcano. It broke out into violent 



BISHOP OF AMBATO. 



