summit of Marbore, one of the highest sum- 
mits of the chain of the Pyrenees, 
Notwithstanding the effects of this illusion 
produced by the height of the plains of Quito^ of 
Mulalo^ and Riobamba, we should seek in vain 
near the coasts, or on the eastern slope of Chim- 
borazo, a place that would afford so magnificent 
a view of the Cordilleras, as that I enjoyed for 
several weeks in the plain of Tapia. When we 
are placed on the back of the Andes, between 
the double ridge formed by the colossal tops of 
Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Cotopaxi, we 
are still near enough their summits to see them 
under angles of considerable altitude ; but in 
descending toward the forests, which environ the 
foot of the Cordilleras, these angles become very 
small ; for, on account of the enormous mass o^ 
the mountains, we rapidly leave the summits at 
a distance, in proportion as we approach the level 
of the ocean. 
I have sketched the outlines of Chimborazo 
and Carguairazo, by the use of the same graphic 
means as I have already mentioned, when I 
spoke of the drawing of Cotopaxi. The line 
marking the inferior limits of the perpetual 
snows is at a height, which somewhat exceeds 
that of Mount Blanc, for this last * mountain, 
if placed under the equator, would be covered 
but occasionally with snow. The constant tern- 
