312 



TRAVELS AMONGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. xvii. 



V 



firewood ; Campana and David to Mocha and the neighbouring 

 villages to collect antiquities and to buy food ; and went with the 

 Carrels to commence measurement on the high road, where it 

 runs across the Paramo of Sanancajas. On return to camp found 

 that Domingo had been assailed by two men, who took away his 

 macheta, and would not restore it until he had given up all the 

 money he possessed. At dusk a horseman rode up (who was 

 recognized as one of the men attached to Chuquipoquio), and in a 

 very insolent manner demanded payment for permission to camp, 

 and for the grass our beasts were eating. Had it explained to him 

 that he had better take himself off, and he rode away shouting 

 that he would come back with others at night and steal our 

 animals. About 9 p.m. Campana and David came in, very excited, 

 saying that a few miles off, on the high road, two men had spread 

 a white cloth before their beasts, to try to frighten them, and had 

 then rushed in. There was a tussle, and my men scampered off, 

 with the loss of a few trifles. 



Putting these several things together, it seemed that Sefior 

 Chiriboga must have again come up from 

 Eiobamba '' to watch over and care for us " 

 (see p. 82), and it became necessary to avoid 

 his attentions. The position of the camp was 

 excellent for defence, though it had not been 

 selected with any such view. There was a 

 small torrent on the north side, and a narrow 

 but deep earthquake fissure on the south. 

 The two united towards the east, and our 

 camp was placed on the west (at A, B). 

 When the animals were driven into Z, no 

 one could get at them without passing us. 

 Kept watch until past midnight, and then 

 roused Louis to take a turn for an hour, but 



before his time was half over he was snoring again. Continued 

 to watch, and at 2 a.m. heard whistling, and low voices of persons 



