106 FOURTH PASS COVERED WITH SNOW. 



where we started, we arrived at the fourth 

 pass Ladera de las Vacas : this was dreadful^ 

 and plainly could we see that our difficulties and 

 troubles were now only commencing, as at the 

 first, no vestige of a track was left, the mountain 

 ran smooth for about one thousand two hundred 

 feet, right down into the river, and half of it was 

 covered with snow. We were detained a consi- 

 derable time making our road ; the mules were 

 again unloaded, and we proceeded over till we 

 came to the snow, where our work of distress 

 began, we literally crawled over on our hands and 

 knees, frequently slipping a few feet, but sup- 

 porting ourselves with our sticks. The mules 

 came next, all unloaded but one, with a few 

 light articles ; some of the peons took their sta- 

 tions at different distances down the mountain 

 of snow, with lassoes in their hands, fully ex- 

 pecting what was to follow: while the others 

 drove them on, when by dint of shouting, halloo- 

 ing, and beating, they got them to move. The 

 poor animals began stumbling, falling and slipping. 



