116 



CHAPTER VI. 



Lose all sight of the Track — Incas Bridge choked up with 

 Snow — One of our Peons found nearly dead in the Snow — 

 Severity of the cold — Effects of cold — Interesting Extracts 

 of the Sufferings of the French Army in Russia — Advice 

 to Travellers — Snow-storm comes on — Peons lose their 

 Courage — Desert our Luggage, and make a precipitate 

 retreat to the Casucha — Blocked up till the next day — 

 Description of a Snow-storm — Excessive cold. Thermometer 

 fifteen degrees below freezing point. 



Monday^ 20th. — Waked the peons up at 

 daylight, who arose as cheerfully as if they had 

 been going out on a party of pleasure. It proved 

 a very fine morning, but bitter cold, thermo- 

 meter standi Qg twelve degrees below the freez- 

 ing point. 



On account of the fall of snow during the 

 night, all appearance of the track was gone ; in 

 many places we were obliged to probe our way 



