360 PASSAGE OF THE CORDILLERA, 



foot slipped on this very spot, and falling 

 down the precipice he broke his neck !" For- 

 tunately for me, my mule shewed more sense, 

 and carried me past in safety. The poor car- 

 geros began to feel the fatigue of climbing the 

 mountains, being frequently obliged to rest 

 themselves ; but they said they should do bet- 

 ter the next day, as the first day was always 

 most trying to them. On either side of the 

 road I saw a number of red-haired monkeys, 

 leaping from tree to tree, who scrutinized us 

 closely, but appeared very harmless. About 

 three o'clock, I observed a white flag on a pro- 

 jecting mount at some distance, and on arriv- 

 ing there, found it to be erected at the usual 

 resting place for the night, called La Fahniiia, 

 where I found Lieutenant Ortegas encamped, 

 who had hoisted a white sheet, in order that 

 his resting-place might be seen from the town. 

 He came from under his rancha to receive me, 

 and welcomed me to his habitation. He had 

 left the town the preceding day, charged with 

 despatches from the government for Bolivar ; 

 but two of his peons having fallen ill, he had 

 been compelled to halt, and despatch a third 

 in order to procure two others to supply their 



