150 



EFFECTS OP THE PUNA. 



cable to the Cumbre, or highest parts of the 

 Cordillera only^ for in many places did they stop 

 as if from an affection of the lungs, and not from 

 the labour of climbing. The same was the case 

 with many of the peons that would at times 

 walk, for they would stop and cry, "puna! puna!" 

 then mount again : and they appeared also to 

 know the spots where they would feel it, if on 

 foot, for they frequently remarked, " Aqui esta 

 mucha puna." " There is much puna here.'' 

 I could only attribute this to there being mineral 

 in those spots, which might more or less have 

 affected the air, which had some influence on the 

 lungs. 



Our descent commenced immediately, for the 

 peons have great dread of remaining on the 

 Cumbre, which is seldom so clear as we found 

 it. Another cross close by, pointed out the spot 

 where some unfortunate wretch had perished. 

 Speaking of the descent, we came to it imme- 

 diately : it was a very steep mountain, looking 

 down about six hundred feet, and I was asto- 



