235 



ground of the sixteenth plate, and in which I 

 have sketched, near Riobamba-Nuevo, the group 

 of Chimborazo and Carguaiazo, has an abso- 

 lute elevation of 2891 metres (1493 toises) ; it 

 is only a sixth less elevated than the top of Etna. 

 The summit of Chimborazo does not therefore 

 surpass the height of this plain more than 3640 

 metres, which is 84 metres less than the height 

 of the top of Mount Blanc above the priory of 

 Chamonix ; for the difference between Chim- 

 borazo and Mount Blanc is nearly equal to that 

 which is observed between the elevation of the 

 plain of Tapia, and the bottom of the valley of 

 Chamonix. The top of the Peak of TenerifFe, 

 compared with the level of the town of 

 Oratava, is still more elevated than Chimbo- 

 razo and Mount Blanc above Riobamba and 

 Chamonix. 



Mountains which would astonish as by their 

 height, if they were placed near the sea-shore, 

 seem to be but hills when they rise from the 

 ridge of the Cordilleras : Quito, for instance, is 

 backed by a small cone called Javirac, which 

 does not seem higher to the inhabitants of that 

 city, than Mountmartre, or the heights of 

 Meudon, appear to the inhabitants of Paris. 

 This cone of Javirac, according to my measure- 

 ment, is, however, 3121 metres (1600 toises) of 

 absolute height; and is almost as lofty as the 



