CH. XIX IN THE ECUADOREAN ANDES 217 
. . . Here, on the eastern side of the Cordillera, 
summer fairly began last month (October), but its 
continuity has been interrupted for some days by a 
succession of terrific thunderstorms, one of which has 
caused a break of two hours in the writing of this 
letter. Three days ago, two women were struck 
dead by lightning while gathering sticks on the 
plain outside the town ; and yesterday six people 
were killed and a wheat -stack burnt down at a 
village a little south from us. 
. . . Matters are in a very unsettled state here, 
and preparations for war with Peru resound on 
every hand. Recruiting — forced contributions of 
money and horses — people hiding in the forests 
and mountains to avoid being torn from their 
families — scarcity and dearness of provisions — such 
are some of the precursors of the contest. And the 
war — if it actually comes — will be something like 
what you have read of in India ; yet nobody knows 
what it is to be about ! These Spanish Republics 
are not unlikely to squabble among one another until 
— like the Kilkenny cats — there is nothing left of 
them but their tails \ and then Jonathan will step 
in and make an easy prey of their mangled carcasses 
(Hibernice loquitur). 
. . . How often have I regretted that England 
did not possess the magnificent Amazon valley 
instead of India! If that booby James, instead of 
putting Raleigh in prison and finally cutting off 
his head, had persevered in supplying him with 
ships, money, and men until he had formed a per- 
manent establishment on one of the great American 
rivers, I have no doubt but that the whole American 
continent would have been at this moment in the 
