71 
some cJimbing plants or threads of the agave, 
placed in parallel lines three or four' decimetres 
from each other. The vijao leaves meanwhile 
have been unrolled, and are now spread over the 
above work, so as to cover each other like the 
tiles of a house. These huts thus hastily built, 
are cool and commodious. If during the night 
the traveller feels the rain, he points out the 
spot where it enters, and a single leaf is sufficient 
to obviate the inconvenience. We passed 
several days in the valley of Boquia under one 
of these leafy tents, which was perfectly dry 
amidst violent and incessant rains. 
The mountain of Quindiu is one of the richest 
spots in useful and interesting plants. Here we 
found the palm-tree (ceroxylon andicola), the 
trunk of which is covered with vegetable wax ; 
the passiflora in trees ; and the majestic mutisia 
grandiflora, with flowers of a scarlet colour six- 
teen centimetres (six inches long). 
