24 



THE ANDES. 



and energy, we made one desperate struggle more, 

 and fairly gained the top of the pass — puffing 

 and blowing, from the exertion, as much as our 

 horses. I felt a heavy pain across my forehead, 

 when at this height ; Maclean vomited ; and the 

 peons, and Don Melchor, ate apples, which 

 they brought with them, — saying that this fruit 

 relieved the sensation of sickness. I suffered 

 from nothing but shortness of breath, and 

 headache ; and the latter left me soon after we 

 began to descend to a lower region. The natives 

 give to this sensation the name of puna. 



