146 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
June 24. — This morning in less than an hour we 
reached a narrow but rather deep rocky stream, 
remarkably like so many others in the Montana of 
Canelos for its crystalline water. We crossed it 
near its junction with the Pastasa, on the banks of 
which and above its mouth rise lofty cliffs from the 
river's edge, to avoid which it is necessary to 
climb over the most formidable mountain on the 
whole route, named Abitagua, and perhaps 6000 
feet high. It was near midday when we reached 
the summit. At something more than half-way 
up is a puesto (resting-place) called Masato, 
whence there is a view down the valley of the 
Pastasa, extending, it is said, in clear weather 
even to the Maranon. I could distinguish the 
water of the river Pastasa apparently a little below 
Andoas, but beyond this the sky was too hazy to 
make out anything. From Masato upwards the 
ascent is painful — steep, rugged bits alternating 
with flats of mud, sometimes over the knees. On 
the top is a long narrow plain, where the intervals 
between the trees are occupied by loose mud. At 
the western extremity of the plain is a small open 
dryish space where a cross has been erected. 
From this site the heights of Patati and Guay- 
rapata in the Sierra are visible, as are also the 
much nearer ridges running from Llanganati 
between the Topo and the Shuna. From the 
cross there is a steep short descent, and then 
another long muddy level, about midway of which, 
and a little to the right of the track, there is a 
hollow filled with clear cold water — in fact, it may 
be called a lagoon, though there are mounds here 
and there on it with trees, true Vaccinia, etc., on 
