ARRIVE AT USPALLATA. 



95 



after, arrived at Uspallata, completely tired, 

 having travelled fifteen leagues on the same poor 

 mule I rode yesterday. 



This is the last abode of man on the eastern 

 side of the Cordillera ; and here we found a poor 

 peon, just recovering his eyesight, that had fif- 

 teen days ago been picked up in a casucha, 

 where he had remained many days blind, with- 

 out any thing to eat, having been deserted by 

 his companions. We found that we should be 

 detained here one day, as our arreiro had de- 

 ceived us in not bringing charcoal from Men- 

 doza, according to his agreement ; so the fol- 

 lowing day was employed in preparing this ne- 

 cessary article, making our snow-boots,^ covering 

 our stirrups with wool, to prevent our toes from 

 being frost-bitten, pounding chaqui, &c. all in- 

 dispensably necessary before entering the frozen 



The snow-boots are nothing more than part of a sheep's 

 skin, wrapped over the ordinary boots or shoes^, which keep 

 the feet remarkably warm. Under this again is a piece of hide, 

 to prevent the skin chafing, with the hair outwards;, which gives 

 a firm hold while walking on the snow. 



