18 



THE ANDES. 



which always carries a bell^ by sound of which 

 the stragglers are collected. Unless the mules 

 are within hearing of this signal, they are ever 

 inclined to stray from the road, or to stop and 

 graze by the way, instead of pursuing their 

 journey. 



We started at daylight. I rode along by the 

 torrent, which was growing more impetuous 

 at every step. We could now perceive the 

 summit of the first Portillo, for there are two 

 mountains bearing that name, and the first now 

 rose directly in front of us, like a great dark 

 wall, with a small aperture or breach near the 

 summit. Here and there patches of snow ap- 

 peared on the mountain-side, looking not larger 

 than white pocket-handkerchiefs, spread out to 

 dry. 



I was in advance of the rest, riding by a huge 

 rock at the edge of the precipice, beneath 



