124 TRAVELS AMONGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. vi. 



known, has the greatest absohite elevation above the level of 

 the sea of all volcanoes that are in working order. 



It is situated about forty-three geographical miles south of 

 the Equator and thirty geographical miles south-east of Quito. 

 In the accompanying view from the farm of Eosario the summit 

 of the mountain has an elevation of 9300 feet above the spec- 

 tator, and between the edge of the plain in the middle distance 

 and the foot of the cone there is a depression, occupied by the 

 bed of the Eiver Cutuchi. This river takes its rise at the 

 western foot of Cotopaxi. The head waters of the Cutuchi are 

 divided from the streams flowing to the north by a plain called 

 Limpiopongo, the highest point of which is behind, and a little 

 to the left, of the domed hill (Callo) shewn in the engraving. 

 All the streams that descend from the northern side of Coto- 

 paxi go to form the River Pita, which, after getting clear of the 

 mountain Sincholagua, enters the basin of Chillo, and ultimately 

 falls into the River Esmeraldas, and so into the Pacific Ocean. 

 The streams which rise on the eastern side of Cotopaxi flow 

 through unexplored country, but there is good reason for suppos- 

 ing that they fall into the River Napo. It is of little conse- 

 quence what may happen in that direction. The Cutuchi and 

 Pita, however, and the rivers into which they fall, traverse the 

 heart of Ecuador, and all places that they pass are more or less 

 unsafe, according to their levels, and their positions in relation 

 to the rivers. Some of the more proximate places to Cotopaxi 

 are in no hazard from its eruptions, whilst others, at much 

 greater distances, are in constant danger from them. Thus, 

 while the village of Machachi is secure, the town of Latacunga 

 is in imminent peril. The nearest house to the crater — the 

 tambo of S. Ana — is safe, though many buildings in the basin 

 of Chillo ^ were erased by the floods which poured down at the 

 last great eruption. This took place on June 26, 1877 ; and, as 



^The basin of Chillo lies to the north of the mountain Sincholagua. The 

 village is not marked on my map, as I was unable to fix its position. 



