106 TRAVELS A3I0NGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. v. 



around the rim of the basin of Machaclii. The imposing figures 

 which are given upon my map as their elevations above the 

 level of the sea may lead some to suppose that this mountain 

 panorama must be exceptionally fine. From more than one reason 

 this is not the case. It should be understood that in the heart of 

 the Ecuadorian Andes there are no such rugged chains as are 

 considered Alpine.^ The character of much of the interior is hilly 

 rather than mountainous. There are long stretches of barren soil, 

 for which the term moorland is the nearest English equivalent ; 

 and large^ flat or slightly undulating areas which may not 

 improperly be called plains.^ The elevation of this land is about 

 9000 feet above the sea, and out of (or from and above) it the 

 mountains rise which have a world - wide reputation ; and in 

 considering them it is necessary, in order to form a just con- 

 ception of their absolute magnitude, and of their relative impor- 

 tance as compared with well-known peaks in the Alps and 

 elsewhere, to apply a constant deduction of 8-9000 feet to the 

 heights which they are stated to rise above the sea -level. This 

 is not all. The lower slopes of most of the mountains of the 

 i]iterior are unusually long, and rise at very moderate inclina- 

 tions,^ and the amount of precipitous ground is less in proportion 

 to the total height than is commonly the case elsewhere. By 

 reason of this, it is possible to take beasts of burden to the 

 great heights that are mentioned throughout this volume. From 

 my mountaineer's point of view some of these peaks 13,000 feet 

 and upwards in elevation were contemptible, for to all appear- 

 ance, by exercising a little ingenuity, one could ride to their 

 summits on the back of a mule or donkey.* 



1 The only exception to this general statement may perhaps be found in the 

 mountains of Llanganati. 



2 Such as the plains of Riobamba, Machachi, and Tumbaco. 



3 This applies only to the interior. The western (or outer) slopes of the 

 Pacific Range of Ecuador would be accounted steep by any one. 



* This was the case with Pasochoa (13,961) and Atacatzo (14,892). We actually 

 took a donkey above 14,000 feet on Pichincha. 



