PERU. 265 
grazing, and occasional cultivated patches were mingled with the 
pasture-grounds ; the aid of irrigation was no longer necessary ; and 
the Cordillera plants of the Flora Peruviana, with the vegetation made 
known by Humboldt and Bonpland, were recognised. At noon, after 
travelling six leagues, they reached Obrajillo, the rendezvous of the 
two celebrated Spanish botanists, Ruiz and Pavon, authors of the 
Flora Peruviana. 
There are three towns, Obrajillo, Canta, and San Miguel, about a 
mile distant from each other, said to contain three or four thousand 
inhabitants. At Obrajillo, the general to whom they had letters of 
introduction, was not at home; some difficulty in getting mules 
occurred in consequence, and it was not until much time and patience 
had been exhausted, that our gentlemen understood the real difficulty, 
which was, that the horses they had brought from the low country 
were not considered capable of standing the cold and fatigue of the 
mountains, the owners at Lima having refused to allow their mules 
to cross the mountains. They were assisted in procuring mules and 
guides by the general's son. 
Obrajillo, the largest of the three towns, contains about one hun- 
dred cottages. It has a stone church, with two towers, apparently of 
some age, which fronts on the open square. The dwellings are of 
one story, without floors, and almost without furniture, yet it is said 
to be the residence of many wealthy people. How true this may be, 
it was impossible from appearances to determine, for the high and 
low, the rich and the poor, all seem to live in the same style. 
The difficulties that occurred in procuring mules for their journey, 
had delayed them so long as to place it out of their power to proceed 
before the next day. The opportunity of visiting the environs was 
taken, and a large collection of plants was obtained, the annuals 
being found in the right season for making collections. The cascade 
which was seen as they approached, was visited, and exhibited a 
picturesque and beautiful appearance, even when it was four miles 
distant. 
At Obrajillo there are many nice gardens and fields, under a good 
state of cultivation. The roadside itself looked like a flower-garden, 
and flowers of almost every hue were seen on either side, Calceolarias, 
Lobelias, &c. 
Here was the first point where they had met the llama used as a 
beast of burden ; the load which they carry is from seventy to ninety 
pounds. 
vol. i. 67 
