Sa ee ee ae re 
ch cena ae tee Maa RAY UMASS NA 
330 RIO VINAGRE. 
of the snowy mountains of Purace and Sotara. This 
city, the capital of New Grenada, stands in the beau- 
tiful valley of the Rio Cauca, at an elevation of 5906 
feet above the sea, and enjoys a delicious climate. 
On the ascent from Popayan towards the summit of 
the volcano of Purace, at a height of 8694 feet, is a 
small plain inhabited by Indians, and cultivated 
with the greatest care. It is bounded by two ra- 
vines, on the brink of which is placed a village of the 
same name. The gardens, which are enclosed with 
hedges of euphorbium, are watered by the springs 
that issue abundantly from the porphyritic rock ; 
and nothing can be more agreeable than the con- 
trast between the beautiful verdure of this plain and 
the chain of dark mountains surrounding the vol- 
eano. The hamlet of Purace, which the travellers 
visited in November 1801, is celebrated for the fine 
cataracts of the Rio Vinagre, the waters of which 
are acid. This little river is warm towards its source, 
and after forming three falls, one of which is 394 
feet in height and is exceedingly picturesque, joins 
the Rio Cauca, which for 14 miles below the junc- 
tion is destitute of fish. The crater of the volcano 
is filled with boiling water, which, amid frightful 
noises, emits vapours of sulphuretted hydrogen. 
The travellers then crossed the precipitous cordil- 
leras of Almaquer to Pasto, avoiding the infected 
and contagious atmosphere of the valley of Patia. 
From the latter town, which is situated at the foot 
of a burning volcano, they traversed the elevated 
platform of the province of Los Pastos, celebrated for 
its great fertility; and after a journey of four months, 
performed on mules, arrived at Quito on the 6th 
January 1802. ! 
