104 DESCENT OF THE BRIGANTINE. 
prevented them from making distant excursions, 
they visited the huts of the Indians; returning to the 
good monks only when the sound of the bell called 
them to the solace of the refectory. Sometimes also 
they followed them to the church, to witness the re- 
ligious instruction given to the Indians; which was 
found a difficult task, owing to the imperfect know- 
ledge of the Spanish language possessed by the latter. 
The evenings were employed in taking notes, dry- 
ing plants, and sketching those that appeared new. 
The natural beauties of this interesting valley en- 
gaged them so much, that they were long in per- 
ceiving the embarrassment felt by their kind enter- 
tainers, who had now but a very slender store of 
wine and bread. At length, on the 22d Septem- 
ber, they departed, followed by four mules carrying 
their instruments and plants. The descent of the 
rugged chain of the Brigantine and Cocollar, which 
is about 4400 feet in height, is exceedingly difficult. 
The missionaries have given the name of Purga- 
tory to an extremely steep and slippery declivity at 
the base of a sandstone rock, in passing which the 
mules, drawing their hind legs under their bodies, 
slide down at a venture. From this point they saw 
toward the left the great peak of Guacharo, which 
presented a very picturesque appearance ; and soon 
after entered a dense forest, through which they 
descended for seven hours in a kind of ravine, the 
path being formed of steps from two to three feet 
high, over which the mules leaped like wild goats. 
The creoles have sufficient confidence in these ani- 
mals toremain in their saddles during this dangerous 
passage ; but our travellers preferred walking. 
The forest was exceedingly dense, and consisted _ 
