1833. ] SIERRA VENTANA. 109 
second ascent. It was late in the day, and this part of the moun- 
tain, like the other, was steep and rugged. I.was on the top of 
the second peak by two o’clock, but got there with extreme dif- 
ficulty ; every twenty yards I had the cramp in the upper part 
of both thighs, so that I was afraid I should not have been able 
to have got down again. It was also necessary to return by 
another road, as it was out of the question to pass over the 
saddle-back. I was therefore obliged to give up the two higher 
peaks. Their altitude was but little greater, and every purpose 
of geology had been answered; so that the attempt was not 
worth the hazard of any further exertion. I presume the cause 
of the cramp was the great change in the kind of muscular action, 
from that of hard riding to that of still harder climbing. It is 
a lesson worth remembering, as in some cases it might cause 
much difficulty. 
I have already said the mountain is composed of white quartz 
rock, and with it a little glossy clay-slate is associated. At the 
height of a few hundred feet above the plain, patches of conglo- 
merate adhered in several places to the solid rock. They re- 
sembled in hardness, and in the nature of the cement, the masses 
which may be seen daily forming on some coasts. I do not 
doubt these pebbles were in a similar manner aggregated, at a 
period when the great calcareous formation was depositing be- 
neath the surrounding sea. We may believe that the jagged 
and battered forms of the hard quartz yet show the effects of the 
waves of an open ocean. 
I was, on the whole, disappointed with this ascent. Even the 
view was insignificant ;—a plain like the sea, but without its 
beautiful colour and defined outline. The scene, however, was 
novel, and a little danger, like salt to meat, gave it a relish. 
That the danger was very little was certain, for my two com- 
panions made a good fire—a thing which is never done when it 
is suspected that Indians are near. I reached the place of our 
bivouac by sunset, and drinking much maté, and smoking several 
cigaritos, soon made up my bed for the night. The wind was 
very strong and cold, but I never slept more comfortably. 
September 10th.—In the morning, having fairly scudded 
before the gale, we arrived by the migdle of the day at the Sauce 
posta. On the road we saw great numbers of deer, and near the 
