MOUNTAIKS. S 
Oxygen in tlie atmosphere above. Long before tliey reached 
tlie above surprising height, they had been abandoned by 
their guides, the Indians, who had taken alarm, and were 
fearful of tlieir lives. So great was the fall of snow on 
tlreir return, that they could scarcely recognize each other, 
and thev all suffered dreadfolfo from the inteirseness of the 
cold. 
A great number of Spaniards formerly perished in 
yossirig the vast and dangerous deserts which lie on the 
declivity ot Chimborazo ; being now, however, better 
acquainted with tlieiii, such misfortunes seldom occur, espe- 
cially as very few take tliis route, i,nles,s there be a pros- 
pect ot calm and serene weather. 
COTOPAXI. 
This mountain is tlie loftiest of those volcanoes of tlie 
Andes which, at recent epochs, have undergone eniptions. 
JNotwithstanding it lies near the Equator, its summits are 
wvered with perpetual snows. The absolute height ot 
otopaxi is 18,876 feet, or three miles and a half, con- 
sequently it is 2,622 feet, or half a mile, higher tlian Vesu- 
I ms would he, were that mountain placed on the top ol 
le I eak of Teneritfe ! Cotopaxi is the most mischievous 
o tlie volcanoes in tlie kingdom of Quito, and its explo- 
sions aie the most frequent and disastrous. The masses ot 
^nse, and the pieces of rock, thrown out of this volcano, 
wpr/f several square leagues, and would form, 
i7'tR heaped together, a prodigious mountain. In 
^ flames ot Cotopaxi rose 3000 feet, or upwards 
halt a mile, above tlie brink of tlie crater. In 1/44, 
. this volcano were heard at the distance of six 
undred miles. On the 4th of April, 1768, the quantity 
it ejected at the moudi of Cotopaxi was so great, that 
yas dark till tliree in the afternoon. The explosion 
ici took place in 1803, was preceded by the sudden 
tw snows tliat covei'ed tlie mountain. For 
cp'iv' I ^sfore no smoke or vapour, Uiat could be per- 
tlip c issued from the crater ; but in a single night 
extpi- fires became so active, that at suivrise the 
tenii-vp— cor.e, heated to a very considerable 
I true, appeared naked, and of the dark cdour 
