278 SEASONS FOR CROSSING THE CORDILLERA. 



the traveller with confidence to venture over 

 many places, which otherwise he might feel a 

 little timid at : I know that I regretted much not 

 having one with me. 



Spring. These months the rivers are swollen 

 and rapid, particularly if it has been a severe 

 winter and late season, as that of 1827, when I 

 passed : then the torrents came down with great 

 fury, and crossing them was attended with con- 

 siderable danger and risk ; but, in ordinary sea- 

 sons, these months are tolerable. 



Upon the whole, I would never cross the 

 Andes in any other season but the summer, un- 

 less compelled to do so from great emergency. 

 Next to that. May and December would be 

 the months I should choose, as they may, gene- 

 rally speaking, be accounted good. Thus far 

 has it been my particular endeavour to convey 

 to the traveller a faithful representation of the 

 various difficulties he may have to encounter in 

 crossing the continent of South America, with- 

 out adding, or detracting from any circumstance 



