HERD OF GUANACOS. 



97 



whose bed we now descended into, and whose 

 opposite banks formed a perpendicular wall^ in 

 some places one hundred and fifty feet high, with 

 the lofty mountains towering above, to the enor- 

 mous height of upwards of fifteen hundred feet, 

 their summits covered with snow. We were 

 now in the valley formed by these tremendous 

 mountains, with their mighty heads enveloped in 

 clouds, skirting along by the side of the Men- 

 doza, that was leaping and dashing over huge 

 blocks of stone, and roaring like the sea break- 

 ing on the shore in a gale of wind. We soon 

 commenced ascending very rapidly, and saw a 

 herd of guanacos in the mountains over our 

 heads ; a height of at least six or seven hundred 

 feet, appearing like so many rabbits. The dogs 

 that our peons had with them attempted to get 

 at them, but to no purpose ; they could not 

 ascend the perpendicular heights which these 

 animals stood upon. We soon came to the first 

 pass, Ladera de la Cortidera; it was indeed 

 terrific in appearance, and truly dangerous. Be» 



H 



