THE HACIENDA OF ANTISANA. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE FIRST ASCENT OF AJ^TISAJ^A. 



We^ left Quito for Antisana on March 4, the day following my 

 interview with the President ; and crossing the Pnengasi ridge, 

 descended into the basin of Chillo. This is another of those large 

 (almost saucer-shaped) depressions which it seems to me are more 

 appropriately termed hasins than valleys. It is, however, often 

 called the valley of Ohillo, after a small village on its southern 

 edge, where there is a cotton factory belonging to the Aguirre 

 family.^ ' 



* To rep] ace Mr. Perring, who left me at Quito, I engaged a Mr. Verity, an 

 English mechanic who had recently terminated an engagement at the Chillo factory. 

 He continued with me until the beginning of May, and I found his acquaintance with 

 the country round Quito very useful. 



2 This is one of the old, noble families of Ecuador. Under the Republican 

 levelling they were deprived of their title, Marquis de Selvalegre. 



