Letters , Extracts from Correspondence , Notices, fyc. 209 
low, rose immediately in front, and apparently close to us. 
About 1 p.m. I pushed forward ahead of my cargoes, with the 
view of seeking some convenient spot to locate in. Soon after 
came on a liail-storm, of which we had a succession that after¬ 
noon. The wind made it extremely cold, and, my horse being 
knocked up, I was glad to get ofF and walk. Just at the point 
where the roads from Quito and Riobamba converge, was pointed 
out what was supposed to have been an aqueduct of the Incas. 
Below us was a very deep and wide quebrada , amongst the white 
rocks of which the Condors ( Sarcorhamphus ) are said to breed. 
We saw a few of these birds soaring above us, and two, which 
were not at any great height, appeared to be of a smaller species 
than that which I am acquainted with. Having arrived at a 
place called Panza, we halted: it hailed and rained in torrents. 
The mist was driving about so thick, that it was with great diffi¬ 
culty I found a spot for the night amidst some stunted trees. 
Fortunately, about 5 p.m. it cleared off again, and we had a fine, 
but cold night. It froze hard, the hail lay on the ground, and 
icicles hung from the trees. We busied ourselves with cutting 
branches, and gathering paja (a coarse grass with which the 
paramo is covered) to build a hut. We were here situated just on 
the f divide/ The mountain-torrent below was flowing towards 
Guayaquil; all the other streams we had passed were running 
eastward. We were 7 leagues (about 4^ miles each) from Rio¬ 
bamba, and 8 or 9 from Guaranda, on the road to Guayaquil. 
The height is guessed at 14,000 feet, as I had no means for de¬ 
termination. We were within one league of the snow. We ap¬ 
peared to be above the range of the Gallinazos ( Cathartes ). Their 
place was taken by the Bui'tres or Condors, one of which might 
be occasionally seen soaring above. Having procured specimens 
of the desired Humming-bird, I returned to Riobamba, with my 
eyes blood-shot, face blistered, and nose swollen, the usual effects 
of the wind at this altitude.” 
Owing to the blockade of Guayaquil by the Peruvians, Mr. 
Fraser has been unable to forward his latest collections. 
Mr. Wallace's last letters to Mr. Stevens are dated “ Batchian 
