FIRST SIGHT OF THE ANDES. 



69 



were immediately lassoed by the peons, and pre- 

 pared for starting. Our carriage was sent over 

 on the raft of barrels, for which we paid six dollars, 

 and by half-past nine we were moving in the 

 province of Mendoza. On the first rise of ground 

 we had a view of the mighty Tupungato, the 

 highest mountain in this range of the Cordillera : 

 its summits were towering in the clouds, a mass 

 of snow, and all we saw of it resembled an ice- 

 berg. Changing horses at Tortugas and Corral 

 de Quero, we arrived at the village of Corro 

 Corto just as the sun set behind the mighty 

 mountain, from which we must have been, at 

 least, one hundred and thirty miles. 



This village was, at one time, better tenanted, 

 which the ruins of a few houses testify ; there are 

 a few poplars planted here, the first appearance 

 towards cultivation or improvement displayed in 

 any of the villages we had hitherto passed 

 through. The post was tolerable, and we found 

 it the station of a custom-house officer, who ex- 

 amined our passports. 



