NARRATIVE OF AN 



The two higheft mountains in South America, are that 

 peak of the Andes called Chimborazo, which meafures 

 205460 geometrical feet above the furface of the South 

 Sea ; having, though under the line, 4000 feet of its 

 fummit continually covered with fnow. The other is 

 that, on the Hope of which is built the city of Quito, at 

 the heighth of 9,370 feet, and is thought to be the 

 higheft inhabited land in South America, if not in the 

 world. 



We flill continued marching north, on the 7th, over 

 mountains, from which, at intervals, we had undoubt- 

 edly the moft enchanting profpedts, as well from the 

 wildnefs of the country, as the beautiful variegated 

 verdure difplayed in fo many different fliades through 

 this amazing foreft. Here I faw a bird which is called a 

 woodcock, which appears to have much of the colour of 

 thofe in Europe, but which flew very heavily; I was 

 however informed, that it can run with incredible fwift^ 

 nefs. But the objedts which moft attradled my attention 

 were the arnotta-trees, a few of which we met with : of 

 thefe I have copied one of the twigs with great ex adfnefs. 

 This tree, which is aifo called the rowcozv, or the orlean- 

 tree, and by the Indians cojfowte, may rather be filled 

 a fhrub, as it does not grov/ above twelve feet in height. 

 The leaves are greener on one fide than the other, and 

 are divided by fibres of a reddifli brown colour, as is alfo 

 the ilem ; the pods, which are as large as a fmall hen's 

 egg, are briftled like the outer hufk of a chefnut. At 

 firil they are a beautiful rofe colour, which, as they 

 8 ripenj. 



