152 



DESERTED GOODS FOUND 



ran up on each side of us, not more than a hundred 

 yards apart^ covered from top to bottom with 

 the purest white^ not a spot or footstep to be 

 seen upon either. The sun's dazzling rays re- 

 flecting full upon them was very distressing to 

 our eyes. We arrived late at the miserable Ca- 

 sucha de Calaveras^ which appeared like a black 

 speck upon the pure white around. We did 

 not perceive it until close upon it, and no won- 

 der^ for it was surrounded by a perfect wall of 

 snow eight feet high. We could not get other 

 water than snow here, although there is a stream 

 and large lake, Laguna del Inca, close to it; 

 but both were frozen over and covered with 

 snow. In this miserable abode there were four 

 bales of goods that had been left, and deserted 

 in a storm, showing plainly the severity of the 

 season; and there they would remain till the 

 Cordillera opened, as safe as if in the owner's 

 stores. Instances have been known of goods 

 being deserted and buried in the snow for the 

 whole winter, and afterwards found untouched. 



