Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 231 



fmall in comparifon of others in this Cordillera^ and 

 thus faved us the many inconveniencies of a lofty 

 Itation; yet the fteepnefs of its fides put us to no 

 fmail difficulty, there being no other poflible method 

 of going up, than by climbing and the greateft care 

 is requifite in fixing the hands and feet clofe and firm; 

 nor is it poffible to climb it in lefs than four hours. 

 The defcent, as may naturally be concluded, is little 

 iefs hazardous, as you muft fit and Aide down much 

 the greater part of ic and this mufl: be done gently, 

 left, by celerity of motion, you tumble down the 

 precipice. 



VI. Signal on the plain of Changalli. 



On the 7th of March we removed to the fignal of 

 Changalli, and finifhed the necelTary obfervations on 

 the 20th, We fpent the- time here very comfortably. 

 The fignal was ereded on a plain, where neither the 

 air nor weather molefted us ; and being lodged in a 

 farm-houfe near the fignal, and not far from the town 

 of Pintac, we had all the necefifary conveniencies of 

 life, the want of which we often feverely felt in the 

 deferts. Thefe comforts did nor, however, in the lead 

 abate our diligence to avail ourfelves of every inftant 

 when the fignals on the mountains were not concealed 

 in clouds. But one circumftance which lengthened 

 our flay was, that feme of the fignals were wanting, 

 having been blown down by the wind; it was there-, 

 fore refolved, that for the future the field tents fliould 

 ferve for fignals. And accordingly, we afterwards 

 conftantly purfued this method. 



VII. Signal on the defert of Pucaguaico, on the fide 

 of the mountain Catonaxi. 



This mountain we afcended the 21ft of March, and 

 on the 4th of April were obliged to return, after in 

 vain endeavouring to finiih our obfervations. For, 



0^4 not 



