cH.xix IN THE ECUADOREAN ANDES 203 
In my last excursion to Tunguragua I was obliged 
to leave several things because I had no paper to 
put them in. I have just returned from Riobamba, 
after a stay there of nearly a month with Dr. Taylor. 
Like Ambato, it stands in the midst of sandy deserts 
where hardly any vegetation is visible save the 
fences of Agave and Cactus and the common weeds 
that grow in their shelter. I made a desperate 
attempt to get in at the southern side of Tunguragua, 
where there is a magnificent waterfall (Huandis- 
agua) which comes down from the very snow at three 
leaps into the warm valley of Capi'l — full 8000 feet ; 
for this purpose I moved to Penipe, about four 
leagues east of Riobamba, and from thence reached 
the cataract in an excursion of fourteen hours. But 
what with alternately wading in the cold snow- 
water and climbing up cliffs in a burning sun, I 
was confined to bed for four days afterwards with 
fever and rheumatic pains from head to foot. The 
worst was that, so dried up was the forest with the 
protracted summer, I did not get a single plant 
in good state. The weather is still dry, and until 
the rains come there will be no herborising ; but I 
am occupied in arranging and packing my Bafios 
collections, which I hope to dispatch to Guayaquil 
in June. In May I ought to revisit Banos to 
procure plants of two fine Orchises I found on 
Tunguragua. 
I should be very glad to return to England, as 
you recommend me, to distribute my mosses, but I 
am fearful of again falling into delicate health if I 
go there. I have, besides, no funds beyond what 
are in your hands ; these would soon be exhausted, 
and poverty is such a positive crime in England, 
