146 



ASCENT OF THE CUMBRE. 



and knees,' once or twice I looked down, and 

 the sight absolutely astonished me ; some were 

 very far behind, and looked such perfect pig- 

 mies, that I could scarcely believe I was such a 

 height above them; and then to look at those again 

 that towered high above myself, made me feel 

 lest, by one false step, they might come tumbling 

 down and precipitate me upon those beneath, who 

 were too deeply employed looking for a secure 

 footing for themselves, to think of any one else. It 

 was certainly an awful height to look from, and 

 I half regretted doing so, as it made me feel for 

 the security of those above, which before I never 

 thought of, being too much engaged about my own. 



We were four hours and a half at this dis- 

 tressing labour before reaching the summit. 

 Those poor peons who arrived first, looked down 

 upon the others and neighed for joy, in imitation 

 of the mules. Here was a cross erected on the 

 very summit, to the memory of some peons who 

 perished in a storm at the commencement of a 

 severe winter, having been overtaken before 



