CUESTA DE CONCUAL. 



229 



Immediately commenced ascending the Cuesta de 

 Concual^ which was the terrific descent I came 

 down with so much difficulty in the winter, and 

 truly astonished was I now to look at it. A 

 foaming torrent was rushing down the very spot 

 where we had descended. Our path now lay by 

 the side of it, passing up in a zig-zag direction 

 round the mountain, which was here and there 

 still obstructed by a few small patches of snow. 

 As we ascended, the thermometer fell to 48^ in 

 the shade. On arriving at the top, the Laguna 

 del Inca opened o n our left, whichi had not 

 before seen, on account of its being frozen over 

 and covered with snow. On terminating another 

 steep ascent, which I had before slid down, we 

 arrived at the casucha de Calaveras, situated at 

 the foot of the Cumbre. On my last crossing the 

 Cordillera, I slept at this casucha, where lay the 

 bales of goods that had been deserted ; it was then 

 surrounded by a wall of snow eight feet high, but 

 at this time all was clear. Immediately on leaving 

 the casucha the ascent of the Cumbre commences. 



