THE GREAT CORDILLERA. 



167 



falling backwards ; however, on he went, with a 

 determination and patience that was quite astonish- 

 ing. At times he stopped, but the path was so 

 steep, and the decomposed rock so loose, that of 

 his own accord in a few seconds he continued. It 

 was very picturesque and interesting to see the 

 whole party beneath, threading their way in dif- 

 ferent paths above each other ; some going towards 

 the north, and others towards the south — to see 

 the riders leaning forwards, every animal straining 

 to his utmost, and to hear the peons cheering on 

 their mules by a song which was both wild and me- 

 lodious. 



After climbing in this singular manner for about 

 an hour, I reached the summit, and it was really a 

 moment of great triumph and satisfaction. Hither- 

 to I had always been looking upwards, but now 

 the difficulties were all overcome, and I was able to 

 look down upon the mountains. Their tops were 

 covered with snow ; and as the eye wandered over 

 the different pinnacles, and up the white trackless 

 ravines, one could not but confess that the scene, 

 cheerless and inhospitable as it was, was never- 

 theless a picture both magnificent and sublime. 



