242 



CASUCHA DE PARAMILLA. 



would have been changed ; although in the 

 winter I crossed it over a natural bridge of snow; 

 about the end of summer^ that is to say^ the 

 month of April^ no doubt but it might dwindle 

 into a stream. 



We now tracked the river down a little^ in hopes 

 of seeing something of the mule or cargo^ but to 

 no purpose ; so giving it up as a bad job^ we 

 proceeded on our journey, and passed the ca- 

 sucha de Paramilla, which I looked at most 

 wistfully, being the one in which we were blocked 

 up during the snow-storm. The very idea of it 

 made me shiver, although the thermometer was 

 standing at 84*" : like a frightened child, I turned 

 away from it, and almost involuntarily quickened 

 my pace to get up to my guide. 



1 was telling my guide that at the next casucha 

 (Pujios) we might see the body of a poor peon 

 that perished during the winter, just as I en- 

 tered the Cordillera. ^^Si senor,^^ said he, *^ mi 

 hermano," my brother; and then he began re- 

 lating to me the horrors of the story, all of which 



