228 



ASCENT OF THE 



from the foaming torrent, which kept up a noise 

 like thunder during the night, from sweeping frag- 

 ments of rocks and stones before it. Before retiring 

 to rest, and while taking a comfortable tin pot full 

 of punch, my peon and the courier amused me by 

 relating the horrors of the past winter. Among 

 other things, they told me, that two Englishmen, 

 and fourteen peons were nearly lost in a snow 

 storm; that all their provisions had failed them, 

 and that they arrived at the Guardia nearly starved. 

 On enquiring the name of the arriero, and who 

 the English gentlemen were, I found that it was 

 Mr. Cochran and myself. So much again for the 

 truth of reports ! It pleased God to preserve us 

 in the storm ; but we arrived at the Guardia 

 with provisions enough to serve us another week, 

 in case of such an emergency. 



Thursday, December 20th, we were up at 

 four, and the peons in search of the mules that 

 had strayed far up among the mountains, which 

 prevented our starting till six. Thermometer 

 standing at 56°, with a beautiful fine morning. 



