236 



summit of Marbore, one of the highest sum- 

 mits of the chain of the Pyrenees. 



Notwithstanding the effects of this illusion 

 produced by the height of the plains of Quito, of 

 Mulalo, and Riobamba, we should seek in vain 

 near the coasts, or on the eastern slope of Chim- 

 borazo, a place that would afford so magnificent 

 a view of the Cordilleras, as that I enjoyed for 

 several weeks in the plain of Tapia. When we 

 are placed on the back of the Andes, between 

 the double ridge formed by the colossal tops of 

 Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Cotopaxi, we 

 are still near enough their summits to see them 

 under angles of considerable altitude ; but in 

 descending toward the forests, which environ the 

 foot of the Cordilleras, these angles become very 

 small ; for, on account of the enormous mass o* 

 the mountains, we rapidly leave the summits at 

 a distance, in proportion as we approach the level 

 of the ocean. 



I have sketched the outlines of Chimborazo 

 and Carguairazo, by the use of the same graphic 

 means as I have already mentioned, when I 

 spoke of the drawing of Cotopaxi. The line 

 marking the inferior limits of the perpetual 

 snows is at a height, which somewhat exceeds 

 that of Mount Blanc, for this last mountain, 

 if placed under the equator, would be covered 

 but occasionally with snow. The constant tern- 



