264 PERU. 



tiowers, and French marigolds are naturalized; the pinks grow in 

 immense numbers in every crack and crevice. 



The cabbages here are woody and arborescent, like the cow or tree- 

 cabbage, the trunk and branches being quite hard and covered with 

 bark ; they have at a distance some resemblance to the Brugmansia 

 suaveolens. 



The thermometer stood at 50°, and the weather, in comparison with 

 the day before, was quite mild. 



The hot spring is close to the village ; owing to their thermometei 

 being for low temperatures, not graduated above 140°, they did not get 

 its exact temperature ; but eggs put in were cooked in about three 

 minutes,, and their tea was prepared by a vessel being placed in it, so 

 that it could not be far from the boiling point, at ten thousand feet 

 elevation. No steam was seen to issue from the orifice, but vapour 

 rises afterwards to mark the spot ; there is also a strong smell of 

 sulphur, and at night a thick cloud hangs over the spring. The 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 was observable. A few yards distant from 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 clothes ; the hot spring was estimated to discharge 

 several gallons in a second. 



The soil in this valley is good, and cultivated in some places with 

 care : no fruit was observed. The largest trees were a species of 

 Elder, and a Buddlea ; Calceolaria, Salvia, and Heliotropium, abounded. 



On the 22d they determined to remain at Banos. At an early houi 

 in the morning they found the village 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, 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 

 soaring down the valley. He stopped to observe the majestic bird, as 

 it sailed slowly 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 apprehend it meditated an attack. He describes himself as being 

 in the worst possible condition for a fight, his strength being exhausted 

 by climbing, and his right hand having 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 but to prepare for a 



