LA CONDAMINE S INSCRIBED STOM 



CHAPTER XV. 



A VISIT TO THE PYRAMIDS OF QUITO. 



A FEW days after our return, Jean-Antoine came in from Machachi, 

 reporting that he and his cousin had ascended lUiniza from the 

 north, in witness whereof he presented samples of the highest 

 rock.^ Louis remained behind, at the tambo of Antonio Racines, 



^ " Rough scoriaceous rock. . . In one specimen is an irregular branching tube 

 or vein, coated with a dull greenish or brownish glass, which I suspect to be a 

 fulgurite. I have only had a slice cut from the specimen broken from the rock in 

 situ. It is not in a good condition for examination, but consists, so far as I can 

 make out, of a ferrite-stained glass, containing crystals of the usual plagioclastic 



