82 



ALAMEDA OR PUBLIC WALK. 



dillera, for that cannot be seen from Mendoza, 

 owing to the view being obstructed by a nearer 

 range of high mountains^ of which this walk 

 commands a noble prospect ; it has also two 

 fine rows of poplars on each side^ with a stream 

 of water running between them ; but so little 

 regard had the natives of Mendoza for the ap- 

 pearance of these poplars and beauty of the 

 walk, that they were then absolutely cutting 

 them down^ without any attention to regularity, 

 merely to build a new roof to the theatre. 



Our time was now occupied in making pre- 

 parations for entering the Andes. Leaving to 

 the arreiro to supply us with mules and peons, 

 we took care to lay in a plentiful supply of pro- 

 visions, and had our bread baked for the pur- 

 pose, so that it would keep in the event of being 

 caught in a snow storm. On the evening of 

 the 13th we were all ready for starting, but by 

 the advice of Dr. Gillies^ sent all our luggage 

 off before us^ to a house about two leagues from 

 the town, where travellers generally sleep the 



