254 



LEAVE USPALLATA. 



In the plain of Uspallata^ stands one solitary 

 tree, the first and only one to be seen on the 

 Mendoza side of the Cordillera, which is seventy 

 miles from the Cumbre; the Eastern Cordillera 

 is extremely barren, nothing but huge moun- 

 tains and rocks of red granite. The descent be- 

 tween these mountains being much more gradual 

 than the Chili side, the traveller is continually 

 looking up at the enormous heights around him ; 

 now and then a solitary condor may be seen 

 soaring above in search of prey, or a Cordillera 

 lion prowling along the frightful precipices, look- 

 ing down with astonishment upon the pigmy tra- 

 vellers beneath. Save these, no other animal 

 (but the guanaco,) of any description, is to be 

 seen for a distance of a hundred and twenty miles 

 in the dreary regions of the Cordillera. The offi- 

 cer stationed here recognized me as having pass- 

 ed in the winter, and 1 received the greatest civi- 

 lity from him. We remained till three o'clock in 

 the day in order to refresh ourselves and mules : 

 at two, the thermometer in shade stood at 90% in 



