THE GREAT CORDILLERA. 137 



The road, on leaving Villa Vicencia, instantly 

 turns up a ravine, which is one of the finest passes 

 in the Cordillera. The mountains are extremely 

 steep on both sides, and, as the ravine winds in 

 many directions, one often comes to a spot which 

 has the appearance of a Cul-de-Sac, from which 

 there is no exit to be seen. In some places the 

 rock hangs perpendicularly over-head, and the 

 enormous fragments which nearly block up the 

 road, contrasted with those which appear to be on 

 the point of falling, add to the danger and to the 

 grandeur of the scene. As we were passing we saw a 

 guanaco on the very highest summit of one of the 

 mountains. He was there evidently for safety ; 

 and as he stood against the blue sky, his attitude, 

 as he earnestly watched us, was very expressive of 

 his wild free life ; and his small head and thin neck 

 denoted the speed with which he was about to save 

 himself. 



I had ridden on by myself about fifteen miles, 

 and had gained, by a constant ascent, the summit of 

 the Paramillo, the high range of mountains which 

 overhang Villa Vicencia. The view from this point 

 is very interesting. The ground continues level 



