Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



an attempt in which we should be sure to fail, for tl: 



cry, but tii€ otter ot bread, which it de- 



,, ^ treatment pacified it. The mother (an 



imbecile) had gone 10 miles for squashes and would not return for a day 

 or two. We removed the cobble-stones piled in the door way of the hut, 

 and made ourselves at home, as best we could. Our stupid cook had by 

 mistake substituted tobacco for coffee, forgot the tea altogether, and put 



corafottable meal were futile. However, the arriero got up a savory 

 'eliupe," while Delgardo and I amused ourselves looking on. An old 

 Indian traveler happened along, and joined our chowder-party, greatly 

 surprised at encountering us. The Governor pressed him for our guide 

 8 by his account we were much off our road. 



tlie night was a remarkably mild one at an elevation of 12,850 feet, 



base. We pushed thTpo^rTels^tl to"their utmost capacity, far above the 

 snow-line, among the Andes' lilies, and balls of hard sponge like looking 

 rnoss, and passing to the N.W. escaped the deeper snow, which in all 



vinds. We attained at 20 minutes to 9 the very cone where the sandy 

 N'les were inteirupted by a mane of ragged rocks. Here the Indians 

 stopped, and neither persuasion, bribes nor threats would make them 

 budge. They valued their lives more than anything else, and we were 

 sure to be "swallowed" if we went up. They would hold the beasts— 

 '^atch U8, and offer ovations of coca to the mountain Deity for our safe 

 return! So away we went on foot, climbing very slowly over the loose 

 rocks, and resting at short intervals to enjoy the scene, which became 

 grand beyond description. Three long hours and more we struggled up— 

 the path growing steeper and steeper, until 12 M., when we stood on the 

 [owest edge of the crater's lip, broken away by the huge rocks it had 

 feaved out. Respiration became difficult, and the poor arriero could 

 hardly move. I carried the barometer, fearing to trust even ray compan- 

 ion with it. They told me I was very pale; it certainly required great 

 effort to climb round the risintr edge of the great hole we i»ad reached, to 

 a bluff, forming its summit, when directly the "Soroche," or "Puna," as 

 the natives call it, overcame me. This affection is very similar to sea- 

 attacks some persons very violently, belchmg blood from 

 3 Cordillera 



■■^ -LOCH 111 inioieraoie sympionis ui tycu.i.vo^ "•■■• — , „ i 

 ««lty of breathing. The natives call this malady the Puna or ihe Soroche, 

 and the Spanish Creoles give it the names of Moreo or Veta. Ignorant 

 of its real causes they ascribe it to the exhalations of metals, especially 

 antimony, which is extensively used in the mining operations. 1 he first 

 s.Vaiptoms of the Veta are usually at the elevation of 12,600 feet above 

 the sea. These symptoms are vertigo, dimness of sight and heanng, pam 

 11 the head and nausea. Blood flows from the eyes, nose, and lips. 



