2 



THE ANDES. 



river Mendoza to an estancia on the opposite 

 bank, there to pass the night. The weather 

 was oppressively hot^ and whilst we were ap- 

 proaching the river^ the dark clouds collected 

 in heavy masses on the sides of the mountains^ 

 and forked lightning darted all around. The 

 noise of the torrent was interrupted by peals 

 of loud thunder, which, re-echoing from the 

 mountain- sides, intermingled with the roar, 

 of waters. Now the scene became awful and 

 grand in the extreme. Had we delayed our 

 passage a few hours more, we should not have 

 been able to cross at all. The sun had melted 

 so much snow, that the river was unusually full 

 and rapid. We followed the baggage-mules in 

 a line, up to our horses' girths in the water, 

 which rushed so impetuously down, that we 

 were giddy with looking at it. The opposite 

 bank seemed all the while flying up the stream; 



