THE CHACO 389 



that one may be trapped far from camp by banks of clouds 

 which roll in unexpectedly ! The cold, penetrating mist 

 "is so dense that it is impossible to distinguish objects but 

 it few yards away,; and the most familiar landmarks assume 

 ■strange and: fantastic outlines. In the event that one: is 

 xtvertaken by this phenomenon, there is nothing to do but 

 (Wait until the mist lifts, which may be in a few hours, or 

 -perhaps, not until the next day. Strange to say,^ the in- 

 hospitakiie paramo supports a varied fatma. Herds of wary 

 guanacos feed on the tall, wiry grass growing in the more 

 sheltered places; when alarmed, they flee to the inaccessible 

 rocky slopes. The paja, or grass, harbors also a species of 

 large tinamou, but the bird is loath to leave its safe cover, 

 for no sooner does it take wing than hawks, which are al- 

 ways hovering about, swoop down and carry it away. 



Numbers of deep ravines have been worn in the moim- 

 tainsides by water coming from the melting snows on the 

 higher peaks. These are filled with a rank growth of shrubs 

 •bery. The sides are so abrupt that ^e could' find no spot 

 where a descent was possible without the aid of a thousand 

 feet or more of rope; After a number of days, however, 

 ^ narrow fissure was discovered leading to one of the ravines 

 ■from 5vhich came faint bird-calls that we at once recognized 

 iiwith a- fair ..degree; of certainty. On account, of the high 

 altitude and tangled plant-life it was slow,; tiring .work to 

 f oUow. along the itottom piihe jagged: gash;' there: was also 

 ithe; unpleasant, posability of breaking through the inatted 

 ;bru^ and falling into deep crevices among the rocks. . 

 :. . As .we -struggled.; .along slowly,, high-pitched,- whistling 

 -calls rang clear, and; loud from, numerous places near by, 

 rtoutstill it seemed as if . our. efforts inightbaofno avail; for 

 among that chaos of. vegetation it was impossible to more 

 .■without causing great disturbance and frighteiiing the birds 

 ■away. ...Then there recurred to us the old saying about Mar 

 homet and the mountain and we .resorted to^quiet conceal- 

 .ixiBniii--.' ':■■:■' r.v:'. ■■.■-■. ■::;.::: s./j.- ■ ■-:.':..■ 

 1 Presently there was a crisplittle chirp .and a rustle aniong 



