66 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



obtained from the commanding officers on both sides, 

 it might be possible to go and return, supposing no 

 fresh outbreak of hostile movements of the troops on 

 either side. The news as to the Oroya line was even 

 more satisfactory. The whole line was occupied by 

 the Chilian forces, there being a detachment at Chicla, 

 with outposts on the farther side of the pass. The 

 line had been for some time closed to traffic, but had 

 been re-opened a few days before our arrival. With 

 a permit, to be obtained from the chief of the staff in 

 Lima, there would be no difficulty in proceeding to 

 Chicla. 



My decision was speedily taken. Under the most 

 favourable circumstances, the time necessary to reach 

 Puno and return to the coast, with the not improbable 

 risk of detention, was more than I could afford. 

 Further than this, as Puno lies on the plateau remote 

 from the mountains, I should see but little of the 

 characteristic flora of the Andes, unless I could reach 

 some place on the eastern shore of the Lake of 

 Titicaca, whence access could be had to the flanks of 

 the Sorata Andes. 



Some description of the Lake of Titicaca which I 

 had read as a boy still dwelt in my mind, and the 

 memoirs and conversation of the late Mr. Pentland 

 had long made the peaks of Sorata objects of especial 

 interest to me. There could, however, be no doubt 

 that the faint hope of beholding them which had 

 lingered till then must be renounced, and I was too 

 happy at the prospect of achieving a short visit to the 

 more accessible part of the chain to have leisure for 

 any keen regret. 



