230 



VIEW 



CHIMBORAZO and CARGUAIRAZO 



PLATE XVI. 



A part of the Cordillera of the Andes is di- 

 vided into several branches, separated from each 

 other by longitudinal valleys : another part 

 forms only a single mass beset with volcanic 

 summits. In the description of the passage of 

 the mountain of Quindiu (plate 5th) we have 

 attempted to give a geological sketch of the 

 ramifications of the Cordilleras in the kingdom 

 of New Grenada, between 2° 30' and 5° 15' of 

 northern latitude. We observed at the same 

 time, that the great valleys, placed between the 

 two lateral branches and the central chain, were 

 the basins of two considerable rivers, the bed 

 of which is yet less elevated above the level of 

 the ocean than that of the Rhone, the waters 

 of which have hollowed out the valley of Sion 



