132 



PASSAGE ACROSS 



covered with grapes, vvhich hung down in beautiful 

 clusters ; and the number of peach-trees, loaded 

 with fruit, and scattered among rich crops of corn 

 and other agricultural produce, gave the scene an 

 appearance of great luxury and abundance ; while 

 the mountains of the Cordillera formed a magnifi- 

 cent boundary to a picture which, to one about 

 to cross the Andes, is peculiarly interesting. As 

 soon as the boundary of irrigation is passed, the 

 country ceases to be productive. The soil, light 

 and sandy, produces no sort of herbage, and for 

 more than thirty miles, the road, as it approaches 

 the mountains, passes through a plain, which bears 

 nothing but lov/ stunted shrubs ; and when one con- 

 siders that such has probably been its produce since 

 the creation of the world, it is surprising to see that 

 vegetation, so nearly extinct, should have lingered 

 so long without expiring. However, its existence 

 in these plains proves that they are capable of pro- 

 ducing crops for man, whenever his industry will 

 seek for the treasure. 



The road across this flat country is always te- 

 dious; for the mountains, on leaving Mendoza, 

 appear within three or four miles of the town, and 



