FIFTH NIGHT IN THE ANDES. 255 



the sun 125o. At 3. 30. P. M. left Uspallata, 

 but the heat of the day was so intolerable, (ther- 

 mometer then standing at 88*^,) that we travelled 

 very slowly and were overtaken by night ; after 

 passing over several dark cuestas and numerous 

 small torrents, we at midnight took up our 

 abode on a very wild spot ; it came on to blow 

 hard with drizzling rain, and not being able to 

 find any water near, we all lay down very thirsty 

 and supperless. I was not able to sleep, on ac- 

 count of the heavy rain, and it blew so hard that 

 I could not possibly keep any covering over me, so 

 I even got up and dressed, and sat most wretchedly 

 awaiting daylight. As soon as it dawned we were 

 off, and got to Villavicencia by six o'clock on Sun- 

 day, 23dy just as the cows were being milked. I 

 made a most excellent breakfast off bread and milk, 

 the best I had tasted since leaving Santiago. This 

 day proved very cloudy, which made our travel- 

 ling much cooler and pleasant. Thermometer at 

 nine stood at 64^. After leaving Villavicencia, 



