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west, the summits of Casitagua, Pichincha, 

 Atacazo, Corazon, Iliniza, Carguairazo, Chim- 

 borazo, and Cunambay, rise in succession ; and 

 to the east the tops of Guamani, Antisana, 

 Passuchoa, Ruminnavi, Cotopaxi, Quelendanna, 

 Tungurahua, and Capa-Urcu, which, with the 

 exception of three or. four, are all higher than 

 Mount Blanc. These mountains are so arranged, 

 that, viewed from the central plain, far from 

 hiding each other* they exhibit themselves in 

 their real shape, as if projected on the azure 

 vault of the sky ; we imagine we behold on 

 the same vertical plane their summit and their 

 peak ; they remind us of the stupendous view 

 of the coasts of New Norfolk and Cook's River : 

 and appear like a bold rocky coast, which, rising 

 from the bosom of the waters, seem so much the 

 less distant, as no object is placed between the 

 shore and the eye of the observer. 



But if the structure of the Cordilleras, and 

 the form of the central elevated plain, are 

 favorable for geological observations ; if they 

 enable the traveller to examine with facility the 

 outlines of the double ridge of the Andes : the 

 enormous elevation of this plain gives a less ap- 

 pearance of loftiness to summits, which, if placed 

 on islets, scattered along the immensity of the 

 ocean, like Mowna-Roa and the Peak of Te- 

 neriffe, would astonish more by their stupendous 

 height. The plain of Tapia, seen on the fore- 



