302 TRAVELS AMONGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. xyi. 



I consider it was due to the fact that on the 11th of June, on 

 the Quito Eoad, atmospheric pressure was a little over 21 inches, 

 instead of the 29 — 30 inches to which I was accustomed. 



Some persons^ disbelieve in the reality of mountain-sickness, 

 and seem reluctant to credit that human beings can be affected by 

 diminution in atmospheric pressure, and to them, perhaps, this 

 experiment will prove nothing. As regards myself, it appeared 

 to me to be conclusive that a marked effect was produced, and 

 an effect of a kind which I had never suspected at corresponding 

 altitudes (pressures) in the Alps, where there was no possibility of 

 applying a similar test.^ 



On the 12th of June we finally left Machachi, and marched 

 (without change of animals) in three successive days to Latacunga,^ 

 Ambato, and Eiobamba. The Jovial Man (who had sometimes 

 been a cause of embarrassment) was replaced by a strong and very 

 willing lad, named Domingo — otherwise the caravan was composed 

 as before. The 15th was consumed in preparations for Altar, and 

 in enquiries as to route. After balancing a number of opinions, it 



1 Including Men of Science. Prof. Piazzi Smyth, F.R.SS. L. & E., etc., etc., 

 says in his Teneriffe, an Astronomer^ s Uxperiment, at pp. 381-2, "If a windlass or a 

 treadmill were erected in London, and a gentleman in easy circumstances set some 

 fine morning to perform at one of these ingenious machines an amount of work, 

 equal to the mechanical task of raising his own weight up through the height of 

 10,000 feet perpendicular in seven hours, — I believe that, though breathing air, of a 

 density of thirty mercurial inches, he would be distressed as much as the traveller 

 who, by ascending a mountain, performs the same." The remainder of the passage 

 should be read. 



- It would be interesting if pedestrians, who have ascertained to a nicety the 

 times within which they have frequently covered such distances as one hundred 

 yards or a mile, would endeavour to repeat their performances on the flat pieces of 

 road which can be found at the tops of some of the Alpine carriage passes. 



3 In returning from Machachi to Latacunga, we took the old road, past Mulalo, 

 on the left bank of the Cutuchi, and visited the so-called Inca's house which is 

 situated a short distance to the south of Callo. The small amount of the original 

 structure still remaining has been embodied in some modern farm-buildings. The 

 stones were finely dressed, and fitted without mortar or cement. I saw none measuring 

 more than 18 x 12 x 12 inches. 



