PKEGIPICES AHD PROMOSTORIES. 
SOC 
PRECIPICES OF SAN ANTONIA. 
The mountain of San Antonia, on die route 
quil to Quito, is described by Ulloa as pi 
of the most fearful precipices. In crossing diis 
the declivity was in some parts so great 
that 
til® 
could not have kept their footing, had not the P 
filled with holes, upwards of two feet in dep*> i/ 
the mules placed their fore and hinder feet, 
dragging their bellies, and the legs of die rider, 
ground. Without these holes, which serve a** ^ 
precipices would not be practicable. Should * ’ 
happen, however, to place his foot between^, 
Happen, iiuwevci, lu mo 
holes, or to faulter in the slightest degree, 
fall, and perish inevitably. To lessen die dim .]f 
lall, ana pensn inevuaoiy. au lessen me gi 
dangers of these craggy paths, the Indians, wU 
the travellers, dig small trenches across. ^ 
• ’ • • ' itlc 01 
The descent from the heights was a task 
danger. Owing to the excessive steepness,' th® , 
washed away the greater part ’of the holes 
""i" %llpr 
one side were steep eminences, and on the otn^ 
frightful abysses. The mules were themselves , 
the caution requisite in descending ; for, on 
top of an eminence, they stopped, and haying IW^ jc 
fore feet close together, as in a posture of !|j( 
selves, they also placed their hinder feet togf jtn , 
little forwards, as if going to lie down. In (lifl j 
having, as it were, taken a survey of die fid', l 
down with die swiftness of a meteor. An .. v’’.' 
keep 
to do, was to keep himself fast in his saddj‘^j',,v<|; 
checking his beast ; as the least motion won' , 
CllCCIklllg Ills UCrtBL 3 <IO iiAVAWwiA • u 
sufficient to destroy its equilibrium, and jtDv' 
inevitably perished. The address of the 
truly wonderful, for, in this rapid motion, wlm*’ y kyi 
to have lost all governraeiit of themselves, m.j- 
exactly the different windings of the road, 
previously reconnoitered, and settled hi 
route they w'ere to follow, and taken eveiy IL,, S'V'j 
their safety, amid so many iifegularities. 
die rider depended entirely on their expciienoi-’ i 
