96 M. Boussingault's Account of 



clined to believe this, as the Negro who accompanied me to An- 

 tisana, suffered, it is true, like myself, a violent inflammation of 

 the eyes, from neglecting to wear a veil, but his face was not at 

 all affected, while mine was quite disfigured. 



When the cloud by which we were surrounded disappeared, 

 we examined our halting-place. Looking towards the red rock 

 we had on our right hand a frightful precipice, and on our left, 

 towards Arenal, we observed a projecting rock, which resembled 

 a " Belvedere? It was important to go there in order to ascer- 

 tain if it were possible to go round the red rock, and, at the 

 same time, if we could ascend higher. The approach to this 

 " Belvedere''' was dangerous, but I reached it with my two com- 

 panions. I now perceived that if we were able to climb up a 

 very steep surface of snow, which was on one side of the red 

 rock, in the opposite direction from the point at which we first 

 arrived, we should be able to attain a much more considerable 

 elevation. In order to form a somewhat correct idea of the 

 topography of Chimborazo, let the reader imagine an enormous 

 mass of rock, supported on all sides by buttresses. These but- 

 tresses are the ridges which seem to extend from the plain"to the 

 immense block in order to support it. 



Before commencing this dangerous expedition I ordered the 

 Negro to examine the snow. It was of suitable consistence. 

 Hall and the Negro advanced, I followed, when they stood firm, 

 ly enough to be able to receive me, for, in order to join them 

 again, it was necessary to slide down 25 feet on the ice. At 

 the moment when we again commenced our march, a stone de- 

 scended from the mountain above, and fell close to Colonel Hall. 

 He stumbled and fell. I thought he was wounded, and was 

 not satisfied till I saw him rise, and had looked with the glass at 

 a fragment of the stone, which had arrived so opportunely for 

 examination. This unlucky fragment of trachyte was identical 

 with that on which we had been walking. 



We advanced cautiously. To the right we could halt at the 

 rock ; to the left the abyss was frightful. Before proceeding- 

 further, we endeavoured to make ourselves acquainted with the 

 precipice. This is a precautionary measure amongst mountains, 

 which should never be neglected when we arrive at a dangerous 



position. Saussure said this long ago, but it cannot be too often 



2 ' 



