IN THE CORDILLERA. 



153 



We were all much tired this day^ having per- 

 formed a tremendous journey of four leagues 

 and a half^ including an ascent of upwards of 

 three, and descent of two thousand feet. 



Thursday, 23d. We started very early, with 

 a fine morning, being determined to push on as 

 fast as possible, for fear of the weather changing : 

 our descent became so rapid, that we were 

 running half the time. At the distance of a 

 league came to a cross, erected to the memory of a 

 companion of one of our peons, who perished last 

 winter under circumstances exactly similar to 

 those our young lad was saved from. At three 

 leagues came to the Cuesta de Concual. This 

 was a dreadful descent, leading down to an aw- 

 ful depth below, with the river running at the 

 bottom, but a very short distance to the right. 

 It was really terrific to look down ; and I am 

 speaking within the opinion of many whom I 

 have consulted on the subject, when I say, that 

 it was at least eleven or twelve hundred feet, in 

 a direct descent ; in all parts so steep, that there 



