METHOD OF CROSSING THE RIVERS. 237 



certainly reflects great discredit on the province 

 of Mendoza^ not fitting bridges to these very 

 dangerous rivers^ for it might be done at a very 

 trifling expence ; and the duties which are levied 

 on all goods passing in and out of the Cordillera 

 would amply repay it^ and be the means of sav- 

 ing many lives^ and much property^ which is 

 yearly lost on the first opening of the Cor- 

 dillera. 



The velocity with which the water comes 

 down when the snow melts in the mountains^ 

 is beyond all conception. I was here informed, 

 that the first troop of mules crossed the Cordil- 

 lera on the l^th of December, I entered it on 

 the ISth. In order to cross the rivers, we were 

 obliged to have lassoes made fast round our bo- 

 dies, for fear of the mules losing their footing from 

 the rolling stones : a man first crossed over with 

 one lasso, when on arriving at the opposite shore, 

 he held it fast while all the others crossed with two : 

 in this manner we all succeeded in getting over. 

 Shortly afterwards we arrived at the Rio de los 



