THE GREAT CORDILLERA. 



151 



ing over the food before them. The peons, with 

 their dark brown faces, and different coloured caps, 

 handkerchiefs, and ponchos, were loading the 

 carga^' mules. Some of the party were putting 

 on their spurs ; others were arranging their toilette. 

 The light was now faintly dawning on the tops of 

 the highest mountains, and the snow was just dis- 

 covered lying in large patches and ridges. The 

 bottoms of the ravines were in dark shade, and 

 white windy clouds were flying across the deep blue 

 sky — for some moments all was silent : however, as 

 soon as the mules were ready we mounted, and we 

 were off before we could distinctly see ; but the 

 mules picked their way, and continually ascending 

 by a path covered with great stones, and imprac- 

 ticable to any animal except a mule, we continued 

 to follow the course of the great stream, which was 

 a torrent, roaring and raging, and altogether im- 

 passable. 



The sufferings of the poor mules now attracted 

 our attention; they had travelled from Mendoza 

 with but little rest, and little food; still they 

 required no driving, but were evidently making 

 every possible exertion to keep up with the mule 



