CHAP. XVII. 



SNOW-BLIND AGAIN. 



31^ 



CARIHUAIRAZO, FROM THE SOUTH. 



Occasional glimpses 

 were obtained through the 

 clouds for a few hundred 

 feet in various directions, 

 but whilst on the summit we 

 neither saw Chimborazo nor the other peaks of Carihuairazo ; and 

 we returned to camp uncertain where we had been. At 4 p.m. 

 the clouds opened, and shewed that we had stood on the western 

 of the two principal peaks (that nearly in the middle of the 

 engraving), which is distinctly, though slightly, lower than the 

 eastern one. 



The rate of ascent on this day was eleven feet per minute 

 (3138 feet in 285 minutes).^ Taking into consideration that this 

 was their first experience upon steep snow, David and Campana 

 came out well, and they were greatly elated at the prospect of 

 their promised ascent of Chimborazo. Presently their joy was 

 turned into mourning. In a few hours the whole of us were 



1 Left camp 5.50 a.m. and arrived on summit 10.35 a.m. Left at 11.45 a.m.; 

 came down fast ; never lost sight of the sticks we had planted (though in some 

 instances they were nearly covered by drifting snow), and got to camp at 2.5 p.m., 

 without halting. 



