134 TRAVELS AMONGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. vi. 



— the tufted cornice — is probably due to variability of winds, 

 and the fringe of pendent icicles, all round, to the influence of 

 a nearly vertical sun at noon. AYith the exception of Illiniza, 

 they were not found at the very highest points of the mountains 

 which have been mentioned, and we thanked our stars that it 

 was not necessary to have dealings with them. 



We descended eighty feet to read the barometer ; made our 

 way down the eastern face, and became mist-bewildered on the 

 glacier near the camp. Our shouts were heard by Louis, who 

 pluckily hobbled out some distance to guide us, and we then 

 packed up, and awaited the return of our followers. They arrived 

 at 4.30 p.m., and we quitted a mountain upon which, I do not 

 attempt to disguise, we were fairly beaten.-' 



Our experiences upon Corazon and Illiniza began to open our 

 eyes regarding weather at great elevations in Ecuador. Hitherto 

 we had seen little of vertical suns, and regarded ourselves as the 

 victims of circumstances, and looked daily for the setting in of 

 a period of cloudless skies, with something like tropical warmth. 

 On Illiniza we enjoyed thunderstorms, snow and hailstorms, sleet, 

 drizzle and drenching showers, and scarcely saw the sun at all.^ 



^ Started from the hacienda on Feb. 8 at 9.35 a.m., and arrived at camp 4 p.m. 

 Left camp with Jean-Antoine at 6.30 a.m. on Feb. 9, and in five minutes took to 

 the glacier. Reached highest point attained at 11.45, and got back to camp 3,45 

 p.m. Left camp 5 p.m., and arrived about 8.50 at the hacienda. Temperature 

 in the shade was 36° Faht. at 5.45 a.m. at our camp, and 49'5 at mid-day, when 

 17,000 feet above the level of the sea. 



2 The conditions upon Illiniza were unfavourable for collecting. Out of the 

 snow sludge around our camp I obtained only three mosses {Racomitrium crispi- 

 pilum, Jaeg., Splachnobryum Spruceanurn, CM., and a Webera), and a short dis- 

 tance below our highest point found two others (Breutelia suba7-cuata, Schimp., and 

 Didymodon acutifolius, Jaeg.). 



At 16,500 feet, whilst descending, I captured a small bug, which has been 

 referred by Mr. Distant to the genus Um6sa {Supp. App., p. 117). Though alive, 

 it was evidently a wind-borne straggler, but it is noteworthy on account of this 

 being the greatest elevation at which animal life was either obtained or observed. 

 Its habitat was perhaps in the woods on the Panecillo of Corazon (see p. 117). 



