Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 
5 
canoes by Whymper from the thirty or more peaks which dominate 
the landscape. One of the best known is Cotopaxi, considered 
to be the highest active volcano known with an altitude of 19,600 
feet, and now and then adding to it. Others, Iliniza, Corazon, 
Antisana, and Cayambe on the equator, are no less beautiful. 
Quito is situated at the foot of the volcano Pichincha, which 
possesses several craters. A trip was made to the largest one, 
only to find it entirely enveloped in fog. 
The Peruvian coast, south of Ecuador is extremely arid and 
consists of reddish and yellowish cliffs backed by low, barren hills. 
Occasionally a rift in the clouds will reveal a snow-capped peak 
in the far-off Andes. A few oases occur where small streams, 
arising in the mountains, descend to the coast. About the only 
life to be seen are the thousands of sea-birds circling about the 
numerous guano islands, or an occasional school of seals sporting 
in the sea. 
The coastwise steamers make numerous stops, perhaps to take 
on a load of cattle or hogs for the Lima market. In many cases 
cattle are driven a journey of four or five days from the interior, 
and then loaded on steamers bound for Callao- From the beginning 
of the drive to their slaughter they receive no food. 
By this time our steamer had on board, in addition to the cabin 
passengers, a quantity of Indians and Cholas, fifty or sixty Chinese 
immigrants, a great number of cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and 
ducks, two goats, a monkey, and a few odd parrakeets. 
Five days after leaving Quayaquil the steamer entered the harbor 
of Callao, the chief seaport of Peru- The boat was immediately 
surrounded by a number of launches from which swarmed hun- 
dreds of fleteros, or porters- Their charge for taking passengers 
and baggage ashore depends largely on the appearance of the passen- 
ger, and his familiarity with their language and rates, so that it soon 
occurs to one that they must be the direct descendents of Pizarro’s 
piratical band. When the demand for Conquistadores was over, 
they perhaps entered the fletero business. 
Lima is situated but half an hour’s ride from Callao. However 
charming this city may be in summer, it is far from being a pleasant 
place in the winter season, due to the heavy mist and fog that is 
always present. 
