78 



MOUNTAIN 



ILINISSA. 



PLATE XXXV. 



Among the colossal heights, which are seen 

 from around the city of Quito, that of Ilinissa is 

 one of the most majestic and picturesque. The 

 summit of this mountain is divided into two py- 

 ramidal points, which, it is probable, were the 

 wrecks of a volcano, that has fallen in. Their 

 absolute elevation is 2717 toises. The mountain 

 of Ilinissa is in the western chain of the Andes, 

 in the parallel of the volcano of Cotopaxi ; and 

 joins the summit of Ruminnahui by the Alto de 

 Tiopullo, which forms a transverse link, whence 

 the waters run off toward both the Pacific and 

 the Atlantic oceans *. The pyramids of Ilinissa 

 are visible at an enormous distance in the plains, 

 which form a part of the province of las Esme- 



* See above, page 3. 



