152 



Notes of a Visit to Guayaquil, 



Phycella, and a large rooted Gesnera, all flowering before the 

 leaves appear.* 



Towards the end of January 1842, I left Cuenca and reached 

 Riobamba, by passing over the Paramo del Assuay, which lies at 

 an elevation of 15,000 feet above the level of the sea. This 

 " highway," being the only means of communication between the 

 two towns, is justly dreaded by the natives, as the sudden hail- 

 storms and rain, with which this desolate region is visited, make 

 travelling at all times a hazardous undertaking. The highest 

 point of Assuay is about 500 feet above the road, or 15,520 feet 

 above the sea, and is consequently scarcely within the limits of 

 perpetual snow, although repeatedly covered with it in summer, 

 during the dry season, which is from June to October, when the 

 snow-line in the Andes descends much lower than during the rainy 

 season or winter. At this elevation several species of Gentiana, 

 Culcitium rivale, Sida phyllanthos, with a large purple flower 

 resembling a Crocus, and a small creeping Lupine were observed ; 

 in wet places a red Lycopodium, called in the Quichua language 

 Hatun condenado (great devil) is abundant ; highly medicinal pro- 

 perties are ascribed to this plant by the natives, who employ it for 

 the cure of that horrible disease, Mai de San Lazaro (Elephantia- 

 sis tuberculata), which is so common in the equatorial Andes ; but 

 I could not learn that they derive any benefit from its application. 



Riobamba, or Ciudad de Bolivar, as it is now called, agreeably 

 to a late decree of the equatorial government, stands in the midst of 

 a sandy plain almost destitute of vegetation, at an elevation of 

 9,472 feet. The majestic Chimborazo, which rises gradually out of 

 the plain at a-distance of six leagues, attaining the height of 21,441 

 feet above the sea, with Carguairazo a little to the north, and Tun- 

 guragua and Capac Urcu, called El Atar by the Spaniards, in the 

 north east, form a magnificent mountain prospect if viewed from the 



* The box containing the above, as well as the seeds and dried specimens collected 

 about Cuenca, were despatched via Guayaquil, but never reached England. 



