THE COUNTRY OF THE SHEPHERDS 67 



sides of the Cordillera Vilcapampa are as definite as the climatic 

 and vegetal contrasts. This is especially well shown in the differ- 

 ences between dry Arma, deep-sunk in a glaciated valley west of 

 the crest of the mountains, and wet Puquiura, a half-day's journey 

 east of the crest. There is no group on the east at all comparable 

 to the shepherds of Choquetira, either in the matter of thorough- 

 going dependence upon grazing or in that of dependence upon 

 glacial topography. 



Topography is not always so intimately related to the life of 

 the people as here. In our own country the distribution of avail- 

 able water is a far greater factor. The Peruvian Andes therefore 

 occupy a distinctive place in geography, since, more nearly than 

 in most mountains, their physical conditions have typical human 

 relations that enable one clearly to distinguish the limits of con- 

 trol of each feature of climate or relief. 



