CHAP. VI. ILLINIZA. 131 



minutes, and usually it was completely invisible. It happened 

 that shortly before sunset on Feb. 7 a strong north-west wind 

 set in and cleared the summit of clouds, and from this casual 

 glance an ascent appeared to be a certainty. 



This mountain is probably seventh in rank of the Great Andes 

 of the Equator. It is slightly inferior in elevation to Sangai and 

 is loftier than Carihuairazo. It has two peaks, or rather it is 

 composed of two mountains that are grouped together, the more 

 northern of which is the lower, and is called Little Illiniza.^ The 

 summits of both are sharp, and during the time of our stay in 

 Ecuador they were completely covered by snow. The proprietor 

 of the hacienda could give us no information as to the nature of 

 the country to their west, and it is probable that for some dis- 

 tance, at least, it has never been seen by human eye. He was, 

 however, well acquainted with the lower slopes of the mountain 

 on the eastern side, and said that his people would be able to 

 conduct us to a considerable height. 



Upon leaving the hacienda on Feb. 8, under local guidance, 

 our route was nearly north for four miles, partly over cultivated 

 ground, rising gently most of the way ; and it then turned 

 sharply to the west, up a long spur thrown out from the main 

 southern ridge of the mountain. The course up the spur was 

 about N.W. by W. until we had reached the height of 14,700 

 feet, and then our local guides came to the end of their know- 

 ledge and our animals struck work. There were nine of them, 

 and eight persons to drive, yet there was more difficulty in 

 making them advance than on Ohimborazo when moving from 

 the first to the second camp.^ As usual, none of their loads 



' They have been measured by Messrs. Reiss and Stiibel, who assign the heights 

 17,405 and 16,936 feet to them respectively. I think there is a greater difference 

 in their elevation, and (for the reason stated in Chapter XVI.) that Little Illiniza 

 is not so high as 16,936 feet. 



^ This probably arose from other causes besides diminution in pressure. The 

 ground was steeper, and they had traversed a greater distance than on the other 

 occasion. 



