GOLD MINE OF CAREN» 



211 



foundation of the hut, which was so close to the pre- 

 cipice that there was not room to walk round it. 

 Above it, on the mountain, were loose rocks, which 

 bj the first earthquake would probably be precipi- 

 tated. Beneath was the valley, but at such a depth 

 that objects in it were imperfectly distinguished. I 

 consulted with the two mining Captains, and we all 

 agreed that the plain was about three thousand feet 

 beneath us ; but this only gives our imperfect idea 

 of it, and is probably altogether incorrect; for 

 although I spent some months among the Andes, I 

 was always deceived ' in the distances, and found 

 that my eye was altogether unable to estimate pro- 

 portions to which it had never been accustomed — 

 a trifling but a very striking proof of which oc- 

 curred at this hut. 



We were sitting with the native miners, when one 

 of my men called out that there was a condor, and 

 we all instantly ran out. He had l)een attracted 

 by the smell of a dead lamb, which we had brought 

 with us, and which was placed upon the roof of 

 the hut. The enormous bird, with the feathers of 

 his wings stretched out like radii or fingers, ma- 

 jestically descended without the least fear, until 



p 2 



