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west, the summits of Casitagua, Pichincha, 
Atacazo, Corazon, Iliniza, Carguairazo, Chim- 
borazo, and Cunambay, rise in succession ; and 
to the east the tops of Guamani, Antisana, 
Passuchoa, Ruminnavi, Cotopaxi, Quelendanna, 
Tungurahua, and Capa-Urcu, which, with the 
exception of three or four, are all higher than 
Mount Blanc. These mountains are so arranged, 
that, viewed from the central plain, far from 
hiding each other, they exhibit themselves in 
their real shape, as if projected on the azure 
vault of the sky ; we imagine we behold on 
the same vertical plane their summit and their 
peak ; they remind us of the stupendous view 
of the coasts of New Norfolk and Cook’s River : 
and appear like a bold rocky coast, which, rising 
from the bosom of the waters, seem so much the 
less distant, as no object is placed between the 
shore and the eye of the observer. 
But if the structure of the Cordilleras, and 
the form of the central elevated plain, are 
favorable for geological observations; if they 
enable the traveller to examine with facility the 
outlines of the double ridge of the Andes : the 
enormous elevation of this plain gives a less ap- 
pearance of loftiness to summits, which, if placed 
s on islets, scattered along the immensity of the 
ocean, like Mowna-Roa and the Peak of Te- 
nerilFe, would astonish more by their stupendous 
height. The plain of Tapia, seen on the fore- 
