PERU. 273 
water was tasteless, and there was a coating of the red oxide of iron 
on the substances over which the water had passed, and in some 
places a white powder is seen. A few yards distant from the location 
of the hot spring was a cold one, which, mingled with the hot, is 
found to have a very agreeable temperature for a bath, in which the 
people bathe, and women wash their clothes; the hot spring was 
thought to discharge several gallons in a second. 
The soil in this valley is good, and cultivated in places with care : 
no fruit was observed. The largest trees were a species of elder and a 
Buddlea; Calceolaria, Salvia, Heleotropium, &c, abounded. 
On the 22d they determined to remain at Banos. At an early 
hour in the morning they found the village was deserted, and it 
appeared on inquiry that all the inhabitants had gone abroad to tend 
their herds. For the purpose of taking as wide a range as possible 
in search of plants, our gentlemen separated from each other, some 
going up, while others descended ; they all met with great success in 
their botanical researches. Dr. Pickering attempted the ascent of 
one of the summits ; by noon he had reached a high elevation, and 
looking up he espied a huge condor coming down the valley. He 
stopped to observe its motion, as it sailed slowly and majestically 
along. To his surprise, it took a turn around him, then a second and 
a third, the last time drawing so near that he began to think it 
meditated an attack. He describes himself as being in the worst 
possible condition for a fight, his strength being exhausted by climb- 
ing, and his right hand had been lamed for some days from a hurt. 
The nature of the ground too was any thing but favourable for 
defence ; but there was nothing left except to prepare for a fight, and 
with this intent he took a seat and drew his knife. At the instant, 
as if acquainted with the iron, the bird whirled off in a different 
direction. Dr. Pickering confesses, however humiliating the ac- 
knowledgment, that he was at the time very well satisfied with the 
condor's determination to let him alone. 
Condors are numerous here, and many stories are related of their 
attacks upon animals ; but this was a more decided manifestation of 
a disposition to assail the human race than any we heard of. 
Dr. Pickering was enabled to reach the ridge that bounded the 
valley, but there were many higher beyond. The view there was 
grand and distant, overlooking to the west eight distinct ridges be- 
tween him and the sea, which was too ill defined to be made out with 
any certainty. He descended by the same route again to the village. 
vol. i. 69 
