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REMARKS ON 



of the Cordillera ; and I have heard travellers 

 assert, that it may even be seen from San Louis, 

 in very clear weather." This is a description of 

 the first sight of the Andes, at a distance of one 

 hundred and seventy miles. Now, would any 

 one have imagined, that at such a distance, a 

 man would be obliged to ^' strain back his neck,'^ 

 to get sight of an altitude of about fourteen 

 thousand feet? I will only ask this gentleman, 

 what he did to get sight of the Cumbre, when he 

 was in the valley of Uspallata; after he had 

 travelled upwards of one hundred miles towards 

 it, and was then only sixty-nine miles from it? 

 Where must his head have been at that time ? 

 what must the angle then have been ? 



In speaking of crossing the Laderas : I must 

 observe that the danger of these passes are 

 much exaggerated by all travellers that I 

 have read ; it is really absurd, for there is 

 no danger whatever, excepting, as I have 

 before observed, a recent fall has taken place, 

 and no path left; or when they are co- 



