Ch.il south AMERICA, 2^t 



thofe were clear, Pichincha was involved in clouds. 

 It was therefore neceflary to eredl our fignals in a 

 lower fituation, and in a more favourable region* 

 This, however, did not produce any change in our 

 habitation till December, when, having finifhed the 

 obfervations which particularly concerned Pichincha, 

 we proceeded to others ; but with no abatement either 

 of inconveniencies, cold or fatigue, the places where 

 we made all our obfervations being neceflarily on the 

 highefl parts of the deferts ; fo that the only refpite, in 

 which we enjoyed fome little eafe, was during the 

 fliort interval of paffing from one to the other. 



In all our ftations fubfequent to that on Pichincha, 

 during our fatiguing menfuration of the degrees of the 

 meridian, each company lodged in a field-tent, v^hich, 

 though fmall, we found lefs inconvenient than oiu" 

 Pichincha hut, though at the fame time we had more 

 trouble, being oftener obliged to clear it from the fnow, 

 as the weight of it would othervvife have demolifhed 

 the tent. At firfk indeed^ we pitched it in the moft 

 ftieltered places ; but, on taking a refolution that the 

 tents themfelves fhould ferve for fignals, to prevent 

 the inconvenience of thofe of wood, we removed them 

 to a more expofed fituation, where the impetuofity of 

 the winds fometimes tore up the piquets, and blew 

 them down. Then jve were not a little pleafed with 

 pur having brought fupernumerary tents, and with 

 our dexterity in pitching another inftead of that which 

 the wind had torn away, indeed, without this pre- 

 caution, we fhould have been in the utmoft danger 

 of perifhing. In the defert of Afuay we particularly 

 experienced the benefit of this expedient ; three terns 

 belonging to our company being obliged to be pitched 

 one after another, till at laft they all became unfit for 

 life, and two flout poles were broken. In this ter- 

 rible condition our only refource v/as to quit the poll, 

 which was next to the fignal of Sinafaguan, and 

 Ibelter ourfelves in a breach or chafm. The two com^ 



panics 



