364 



JOURNEY. 



leave of our friend Ortegas, as no peons had 

 arrived for him. He promised to do all in his 

 power to overtake us. 



As we ascended, I soon found the incon- 

 venience of a mule, and the advantage of 

 the sillero, as Malarino went on before me 

 extremely well and quite dry ; whilst I was 

 left behind, and in a few minutes had my 

 feet wet, my mule being up to the girths in 

 mud, and in momentary danger of stumbling 

 or sticking fast in the mire. 



The road was originally formed by the old 

 Spaniards, about eight feet broad, with trees 

 laid equally together and well secured, afford- 

 ing a very good passage ; but, in consequence 

 of neglect, the mountain-torrents have torn 

 away the wood, which has not been repaired, 

 and it has become in parts so bad and worn, 

 that the present road is from twenty to thirty 

 feet below the original level, with perpendi- 

 cular sides, and so narrow, that I was fre- 

 quently compelled to draw my feet from the 

 stirrups, and lay them close to the ears of the 

 mule, to prevent my knees being crushed by 

 the banks on both sides : the muleteer being 

 obliged to go in advance of the laden mule 



