15^ PASSAGE ACROSS 



which carried the bel]. Occasionally the " carga" 

 would require adjusting, and the peon, throwing his 

 poncho over the creature's eyes, would alter it, 

 while the rest continued their course, but the poncho 

 was no sooner removed than the mule^ trotting and 

 braying, joined the troop, never stopping till he 

 came to the bell. 



On the road, the number of dead mules, which 

 indeed strew the path from Mendoza to Santiago, 

 seemed to increase, and it was painful to see the 

 living ones winding their path among the bones 

 and carcasses of those who had died of fatigue. By 

 the peculiar effect of the climate, most of these poor 

 creatures were completely dry, and as they lay on 

 the road with their hind legs extended, and their 

 heads stretched towards their goal, it was evident 

 from their attitudes that they had all died of the 

 same complaint — the hill had killed them all. 



After passing one or two very rapid torrents, we 

 came to a mountain which was one precipitous 

 slope from the top to the torrent beneath. About 

 half way up, we saw a troop of forty guanacos, 

 who were all gazing at us with great attention. 

 They were on a path, or track, parallel to the 



