PERU. 269 
on the clay floor. The thermometer in the doorway stood in the 
morning at 33°. 
Casa Cancha is in a valley snrronnded hy lofty mountains. Its 
height, upon the authority of a gentleman at Lima, is fourteen 
thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. Pasturage 
in its vicinity is good; sheep and cattle are abundant; bread and 
potatoes are brought over the mountains from Obrajillo ; of these they 
have oftentimes but a scanty supply, which was the case at this 
period. The evening previous to their arrival a theft had taken 
place there, — a gentleman had had his fire-arms stolen ; a great loss 
when one takes into consideration the nature of the country, and the 
dangers to be encountered in travelling. 
On the morning of the 20th, with one exception, they were all 
affected with vomiting, headache, and fever, and still suffering much 
from difficulty in breathing; this is usually felt on first visiting these 
elevated regions, and is said to be particularly so at night. 
The morning proved so boisterous, with frequent hail showers, that 
they determined to remain the day to rest their mules and recruit 
themselves. Their breakfast was more acceptable than the last 
night's supper ; it consisted of olla podrida and milk. 
As the weather allowed them to botanize, they set out in two 
parties, but had not been occupied over two hours before they were 
overtaken by a severe snow-storm, which entirely covered up all small 
plants, and made it difficult for them to scale the rocks. 
On the 21st they had determined to proceed to Bafios, which, 
from the description of their guides, who were ignorant, however, of 
the route beyond Casa Cancha, they had been led to believe was on 
the eastern slope of the mountain. 
They started at an early hour, with the wild geese flying and 
feeding around them, determining to visit Alpamarca, which is distant 
from Casa Cancha about two leagues, but owing to their guides being 
unacquainted with the paths, they were led about among the moun- 
tains, and over extensive plains, covered with coarse herbage. A 
variety of beautiful flowers were found, and many domesticated 
llamas were seen feeding. At 11 o'clock they stumbled, as if by 
accident, on the place, consisting of a number of huts; one of these 
showed the welcome sign of bread for sale, viz., a basket stuck upon 
a long pole ; and they were fortunate in procuring some small rolls. 
Alpamarca proved to be in the vicinity of a silver mine, and here 
they found a goodly company of Peruvian gentlemen, collected from 
vol. i. 68 
