CHAP. XI. THE SUMMIT OF PICHINCHA. 211 



In the view placed at the head of this Chapter, Guagua- 

 Pichincha is the little peak that is almost exactly in the centre 

 of the engraving ; and the other one, a quarter of an inch on its 

 right, is that which was ascended by Louis Carrel. The bottom of 

 the depression between the two is the ensillada, and it was here I 

 had my first view of this crater-valley. Subsequently, by passing 

 to the left and skirting the base of Guagua-Pichincha, the same 

 valley was seen again. I think it is likely that others have acted 

 similarly, and through not observing that they have looked down 

 upon one and the same valley have made two craters out of one. 



"We then reascended to the arete of the ridge, and followed it 

 until Jean-Antoine said that the top was reached. The rocks fell 

 away in front, and there was no reason to doubt him ; but, while 

 the barometer was being unpacked, some crags, a long way above, 

 loomed through the mist. " Carrel, ^^ I said, " if we are on the 

 summit of Pichincha, what is that 9 " He was struck dumb for a 

 time, and gasped '^ Why, I never saw that before ! " AVe shut up 

 the barometer, and went on, and in half an hour were really on 

 the top of Pichincha. Nothing more need be said about the 

 ascent than that it might be made alone, by any moderately active 

 lad. The right way up the final peak is by the ridge leading to 

 the west, and it is probable that this route has been taken before, 

 for on the other sides, although not inaccessible, the last eight 

 hundred feet are very steep. 



I found that the summit of Guagua-Pichincha was a ridge of 



separated by a wall of rock. This statement must be made on the strength of 

 information, for a farther crater evidently was not seen by M. Remy. 



His companion Mr. Brenchley went to the bottom of the crater-valley by rolling 

 head over heels, happily, without taking harm ; and set to work to examine ' a bed 

 of sulphur and a fumarole' that had been seen from above. The following sentence 

 contains the whole of the information that is given about them. "II n'y a ni feu 

 ni laves de formation rt^cente." 



This paper was kindly communicated to me by M. Remy after my return to 

 Europe ; and, having compared it with the several other accounts given of the 

 craters of Pichincha, I have come to the conclusion that their authors were gifted 

 with much imagination. 



