Natural-History Collectors, 



5941 



5tli. 6 A.M. Started. Traversed valleys all day, the greater part 

 through bog. At a quarter past 2 p.m. this day we stopped at an 

 Indian hut, and requested food on payment; this was refused ; there 

 was a great war of words ; at last Oreallana struck the Indian in the 

 face, and I expected a fight would ensue ; but no, — the Indian went 

 away, and ultimately his wife made us a meal, such as it was. This, 

 they tell me, is the usual way of getting what you require eii route. 

 During this squabble there were several men and women, travellers, 

 looking on, but no one interfered. vSome part of this day's journey 

 was very cold, but not so much so as I had been led to expect. The 

 mountains here are nearly barren, and have the appearance of gigantic 

 Islands of Ascension. Contented myself with two raw eggs and a 

 glass of water, which I got at a place called Potosi, and turned in for 

 the night. 



6th. Rain in the night: morning beautiful, cool and comfortable. 

 Had the pleasure of seeing a longtailed, green-throated humming bird 

 flitting from flower to flower, close to the shed in which I slept : the 

 male came first, and, when he had been gone some little time, the 

 female came: this looks like breeding, although they say this is not 

 the season. The woman of the hut made me some breakfast, and at 

 ten minutes to 9 a.m., started on a pony, and arrived in Cuenca about 

 half-past 10 a.m. Why we did not come in last night is more than I 

 can say. The muleteer left me in a house in town, bid me " adios," 

 and rode off". I had been here about an hour, and was just thinking 

 I might remain and starve, when I heard footsteps approaching and 

 the sound of English ; they proved to be Colonels Talbot and Harris, 

 who, having heard of my arrival, had come to see who it was. My 

 travelling companion had orders in Guayaquil to introduce me to cer- 

 tain persons, but he deserted me last night, so I had to introduce my- 

 self, when Colonel Talbot told me that the house I was in was his, and 

 that I might remain with him as long as I pleased. And here I am, 

 nearly 3000 feet above the sea. Cuenca seems surrounded for miles 

 by apparantly well-cultivated farms ; the corn is ripe, and for the most 

 part cut and carried. 



15th. Went out shooting; but the roads are so intolerably bad tliat 

 I am compelled to give it up until I can procure a mule. Mud, water 

 and loose boulders are not pleasant travelling amongst. The re- 

 mainder of my boxes arrived. The road from Guayaquil to Cuenca, 

 for the most part, may be likened unto travelling up and down deep 

 dirty ditches or rucks, with stones stuck in every possible position to 

 impede your progress or knock your toes, shins and knees against : 



