ciBAP. V. LIFE IN THE INTERIOR. 101 



In these operations Louis could not be of much service, as 

 he needed absolute repose. His time was principally employed 

 in the study of a coarsely-coloured print of the Immaculate 

 Conception, and in watching a little girl in blue, at the general 

 shop on the opposite side of the road, who alternated the sale 

 of rolls with the occupation of the Ladies of Latacunga. When 

 he began to hobble about, and could sit in a chair on our little 

 balcony, life became more interesting to him ; for his eye could 

 sweep over the whole of the great basin of Machachi, and trace 

 the Quito road from Tambillo to the Tiupullo ridge, with the 

 passing herds of cattle ; or see, right in front, the daily thunder- 

 clouds gather round the cliffs of Euminahui and Pasochoa, and, 

 in the vista between the two, the needle-crest of Sincholagua, 

 or, on rare occasions, the noble, snow-clad mass of Antisana. 



From our windows on the upper floor of the tambo, all that 

 passed on the road came under our inspection. In the early 

 morning cattle were shifted from one place to another, and some- 

 times a wild bull went along, in charge of mounted men, lassoed 

 fore and aft ; a horseman in the front towing it by the horns, 

 and two others each with a separate fastening in the rear, ready 

 to check its pace if it became too frisky, or to give it a touch 

 with their lances if it needed stimulus. 



As day advanced, arrieros with their teams made their 

 appearance, and they constituted tne greater part of the passers- 

 by. Though travelling for the sake of viewing their country 

 is a thing unpractised by Ecuadorians, we saw occasionally 

 some one a little out of the common, going perhaps on a visit 

 to a neighbouring farm, and such a person was generally worth 

 examination. AVhen got up correctly, he wears a so-called 

 Panama hat, a straw hat which will roll up and can be put in 

 the pocket, and may cost anything between ten shillings and 

 ten pounds.^ To take care of this precious article he puts on 

 a white outer casing, but as this would get spoiled by rain he 



1 The lowest price I heard quoted in Quito was nine shillings. 



