LADERA DE LA PULVIDERA. 



105 



look^ in order to ascertain which way we were to 

 get out of our mountain cage : the snow lay right 

 before us^ but we wound round the foot of a 

 mountain, and began ascending very fast, our 

 path here and there obstructed by heavy falls of 

 snow running down the sides of the mountain 

 into the torrent. In many places it was very slip- 

 pery and dangerous, so that we were obliged to 

 dismount, leading the mules over with great diffi- 

 culty and caution ; my companion fell with his 

 mule, and had it been out of a hole, nothing 

 could have saved him from being precipitated 

 in the torrent. At about a league's distance, 

 came to the third pass, Ladera de la Pulvidera, 

 which was tolerable, and the mules passed with 

 their loads, there being no snow upon it. I 

 must observe, that the general track of the 

 passes was about three feet wide, excepting 

 here and there, where it is always subject to 

 be more or less broken. Our ascent now became 

 very rapid into the snowy region, passing over 

 many deep falls. When at seven leagues from 



