XXVIII 
HIDDEN TREASURE 
505 
from which the expedition first spoken of regressed 
in consequence of the Padre's sudden disappearance. 
Beyond this point the cHmate begins to be warm ; 
and there are parrots in the forest. The deep dry 
quebrada (Quebrada honda), which can be passed 
only at one point — difficult to find, unless by throw- 
ing a bridge over it — is exactly where it should be ; 
but beyond the mountain of Margasitas, which is 
shortly afterwards reached, no one has been able 
to proceed with certainty. The Derrotero directs 
it to be left on the left hand ; but the explanatory 
hieroglyph puzzles everybody, as it seems to leave 
the mountain on the right. Accordingly, nearly all 
who have attempted to follow the Derrotero have 
gone to the left of Margasitas, and have failed to 
find any of the remaining marks signalised by 
Valverde. The concluding direction to those who 
lose their way in the forest has also been followed ; 
and truly, after going along the right bank of the 
Curaray for some distance, a stream running 
between perpendicular cliffs (Canada honda y 
Rivera de los Llanganatis) is reached, which no 
one has been able to cross ; but though from this 
point the mountain to the right has been climbed, 
no better success has attended the adventurers. 
" Socabon " is the name given in the Andes to 
any tunnel, natural or artificial, and also to the 
mouth of a mine. Perhaps the latter is meant by 
Valverde, though he does not direct us to enter it. 
The " Salvaje " which might have grown over and 
concealed the entrance of the Socabon is Tillandsia 
lisneoides, which frequently covers trees and rocks 
with a beard 30 or 40 feet long. 
Comparing the map with the Derrotero, I should 
