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THE INCA^S BRIDGE. 241 



substance, much resembling brown saltpetre. 

 The cold spring was Salter, but not so bitter to 

 the taste as the warm ones ; they were so very 

 strong, that I should be inclined to believe a 

 small quantity would produce vomit. No smell 

 proceeded from the water at the springs. I re- 

 gretted very much not being able to get down 

 under the bridge, in order to ascertain what I 

 have heard was a petrefaction. Had I not heard 

 it asserted as such, I should have been under 

 the impression that it was nothing more than a 

 substance formed from the mineral water running 

 down and incrustating itself. 



The bridge is certainly a wonderfully curious 

 and natural production, formed by a branch of 

 the Rio de los Orcones rushing through it, which 

 at this time was high and swollen, tearing down 

 at the rate of ten or twelve knots. 1 remember 

 a certain traveller calling it a paltry stream ; but 

 if he had been here, and seen the loss of the 

 poor mules, and the difficulty and danger we 

 encountered in crossing it, I think his opinion 



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