

LA DORMIDA DE MAYORAZZO. 



CHAPTEE XIII. 



THE FIRST ASCENT OF SAKA-URCU. 



Upox leaving Cayambe on the 6th of April, we came down three 

 thousand feet by a buttress or ridge running out towards the 

 south-south-west, and then turned to the east ; camping that 

 night in the ' palace surrounded by shrubs ' — the structure 

 represented at the head of this chapter — which was called La 

 Dormida (the sleeping-place) de Mayorazzo (11,805 feet), a good 

 thing of its kind, though not very palatial ; and at this lower 

 level we got again into a warmer climate. In the daytime 

 temperature was higher than 50° Faht., and the lowest minimum 

 was well above freezing-point (38° 'S). 



La Dormida was a hut occasionally used by herdsmen when 

 searching for strayed cattle, and was situated in a wood — almost 

 a forest ; surrounded by fallen and decayed trunks, laden with 



