SSO JOURNEY TO THE SILVER MINE 



which we ever made in all our expeditions among 

 the Andes. For five hours we were continually 

 holding on by the ears or neck of our mule, and 

 the path was in some places so steep, that for a 

 considerable time it was quite impossible to stop. 

 We soon passed the limits of vegetation. The 

 path went in zig-zags, although it was scarcely 

 perceptible, and if the mules above us had fallen, 

 they would certainly have rolled down upon us, 

 and carried us with them. 



In mounting we constantly inquired of the 

 arriero, if the point above our heads was the sum- 

 mit, but as soon as we attained it, we found that 

 we had still higher to go. On both sides of us we 

 now came to groups of little wooden crosses, 

 which were the spots where people formerly em- 

 ployed in the mine had been overtaken by a storm, 

 and had perished. However, we continued our 

 course ; and at last, gaining the summit, we found 

 ourselves close to the silver lode of San Pedro 

 Nolasco, which is situated on one of the loftiest 

 pinnacles of the Andes. A small solitary hut j 

 was before us, and we were accosted by two or A 

 three wretched-looking miners, whose pale coun- 



