CLIMATOLOGY OF THE PERUVIAN ANDES 141 



counted the cattle on clear days, drove them to the springs from 

 time to time, and talked incessantly of the wretched rains in the 

 hills and the delights of dry Camana down on the coast. "We could 

 not believe that only some hours' traveling separated two locali- 

 ties so wholly unlike. 



The heavy showers and luxuriant pastures of the wet years 

 and the light local rains of the dry years endow the Coast Eange 

 with many peculiar geographic qualities. The heavy rains pro- 

 vide the desert people at the foot of the mountains such a wealth 

 of pasture for their burdensome stock as many oases dwellers 

 possess only in their dreams. From near and far cattle are driven 

 to the wet hill meadows. Some are even brought in from distant 

 valleys by sea, yet only a very small part of the rich pastures can 

 be used. It is safe to say that they could comfortably support ten 

 times the number of cattle, mules, and burros that actually graze 

 upon them. The grass would be cut for export if the weather 

 were not so continually wet and if there were not so great a mix- 

 ture of weeds, flowers, and shrubs. 



Then come the dry years. The surplus stock is sold, and what 

 remains is always maintained at great expense. In 1907 I saw 

 stock grazing in a small patch of dried vegetation back of Mol- 

 lendo, although they had to be driven several miles to water. They 

 looked as if they were surviving with the greatest difficulty and 

 their restless search for pasture was like the search of a desper- 

 ate hunter of game. In 1911 the same tract was quite devoid of 

 grass, and except for the contour-like trails that completely cov- 

 ered the hills no one would even guess that this had formerly been 

 a cattle range. The same year, but five months later, a carpet 

 of grass, bathed in heavy mist, covered the soil ; a trickle of water 

 had collected in pools on the valley floor; several happy families 

 from the town had laid out a prosperous-looking garden; there 

 were romping children who showed me where to pick up the trail 

 to- the port; on every hand was life and activity because the rains 

 had returned bringing plenty in their train. I asked a native how 

 often he was prosperous. 



"Segun el temporal y la Providencia" (according to the 



