206 TRAVELS A3I0NGST THE GREAT ANDES. chap. x. 



mill was in constant and profitable employment, scarcely able 

 to keep pace with the demand for its productions. The yarn 

 was all bought up direct by Indians and woven by them into 

 ponchos. The excellent order and cleanliness of the establish- 

 ment, with the contented aspect of the people, were a most 

 agreeable surprise, and said much for its Manager, Mr. Daniel 

 Slater, who was the only foreigner employed. 



Daylight had long departed when we set out to recross the 

 Puengasi ridge to the Capital. It was near midnight when we 

 arrived at the hotel, and except for Verity's familiarity with the 

 place there would have been some difficulty in finding it, for 

 Quito is lighted very economically. The law is that every 

 householder must put a lighted candle at dusk in front of his 

 dwelling. The law does not concern itself with the length of the 

 candle, and householders think that the fag-ends of tallow dips 

 are best suited for the purpose. Hence, at an early hour of the 

 night, the city is in total darkness. 



SNOW-SPECTACLES. 



1 



