136 



DESERT OUR LUGGAGE. 



as a change of the moon was taking place, and 

 we feared much for the weather. 



My companion understanding the language 

 much better than I did, urged all in his power 

 to prevail upon them to push forward : stating 

 our scanty stock of provisions, how easy it 

 would be to get over when once at the foot. We 

 even set the example by advancing up ourselves, 

 but all to no purpose ; they crouched under the 

 lee of some rocks and would not move. The 

 storm increased, and the snow came down in 

 clouds, sufficient to blind us, so that, at last, we 

 were obliged to leave all our luggage to the 

 mercy of the storm and make a precipitate re- 

 treat back again to the casucha. 



These hovels, miserable and wretched as they 

 truly are, prove to the storm-driven traveller, in 

 the dreadful dreary regions of the Andes, a most 

 welcome resting-place. There are eight of them 

 in the highest parts of the Cordillera ; they are 

 built of brick, at an elevation of about ten feet 



