flats along the river, The, 3 ^ are terrific diggers and 
throw out the sand in a perfest shov^er behind them. 
The one taken was seen in action. A few Viscachas were 
seen in the higher elevations where suitable rock out¬ 
crops afford them shelter. They were very shy here.,^^ 
Only a'week was spent in this section,and whil^^ 
several worthv/hile things were taken, the locality was 
a diecided dissapointinent. 
The souther portion of the Bolivian altiplano is 
for the roost part very arid and with many portions 
decidedly saline. Rainfall is of short duration(only 
about two to three months,while the precipitation is 
apparently not heavy. Vegetation is sparse and bird 
life correspondingly rare. Very little is know of this 
bleak inhospitable region,while it would seero that 
there would be very little to repay the hardships 
attendant with its expiiiration. The Inhabitants are 
few,mostly the lowest type of Kechua Indian, Towns or 
villages are almost non existent,except for the scatteri 
hamlets of the Indians,where it would be impossible for 
a civilized human to live,except by taking with him 
all food supplies,tent,heating apparatus etc. 
Oploca, 
Oploca is a large hacienda belonging to the Patina 
Mines enterprises,or rather the Compahia Minera 
y Agricultura de l^loca. The R.H.Station,hacienda 
buildings etc, are at an altitude of about 11,000 feet 
in a small valley nine miles above Tupiza{Dept.PotosiJ 
The Railway ente s the head of this valley a few miles 
south of Atoche,where it breaks away from the altiplano 
in a southeastern direction. At Oploca the valley,which 
above is narrow and precipitious(in many places a verit( 
able gorge) opens out into a saucer shaped area,while 
the surrounding mountains drop down to low elevations. 
The river bed itself is ver' wide,about 400 yards,but 
v/ith only a wnall stream of water meandering over its 
rock-strewn,sand and gravel bed. On either side the 
land slopes back gradually and is under irrigation 
as far back as is possible to raise the water from the 
river, ?/her not in cultivation,all the slopes are 
thickly overgrown with vicious thorny scrub,usually 
not more than 5 or 6 feet high,but in some valleys,at 
the bases of the encircling conglomerate cliffs,they 
are more luxuriant and attain a heighth of 2o feet. 
There are three species of this crub,one the roost 
common. Two species of giant cacti also abound,as w^ 
as several low .species. There is a tree along the river 
and on the lower flats which is abundant,and is,I think 
indiginous. They calle it Molle, It grows to large size 
and is very attractive,with thick green foliage which 
