104 ELECTRICITY IN OUR CLOTHES. 



rugged rocks which lay in its course^ keeping 

 up a continued foam and roar^ close to our wild 

 resting-place. The mules were straying about 

 picking up the scanty shrubs^ and our wild, un- 

 couth-looking peons were assembled round a 

 fire, under the lee of a large rock, cooking 

 their unfortunate guanaco, which altogether ren- 

 dered it a scene most truly wild and surpris- 

 ing. Here 1 was much astonished, on touching 

 any part of my woollen clothing, to find electric 

 sparks fly out wherever I put my hand : what 

 was the cause of this I am not philosopher 

 enough to know, but my companion informed 

 me, it was by no means extraordinary in dry 

 weather. However, never having heard or seen 

 it before, I take this opportunity of mentioning 

 it ; for I must own it rather surprised me, on 

 going to bed, to find fire fly out of my clothes. 



Saturday y \%th was a lovely morning, with a 

 beautiful cerulean sky. By break of day we 

 started from our wild beds, and in vain did I 



