ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
it was in flood, or else we should have been held up there 
for several days. Leaving the Azupizu River, we fol¬ 
lowed the river Kintoliani, which joined the Azupizu and 
formed with it a most formidable stream. 
The trail was at a great height, some 600 feet above 
the water. In two or three places where it had been cut 
into the rock it was most dangerous, as the rocks were slip¬ 
pery with the wet, so that the mules had great difficulty 
in keeping their feet. The vegetation was wonderful, 
with trees of enormous height and beautiful giant palms. 
Waterfalls over rocky walls were plentiful, while the ef¬ 
fects of clouds were marvellous among those mountains — 
although my enthusiasm was damped a good deal that day 
by the torrential rain, which came down in bucketsful upon 
us, and filtered through even my heavy waterproof coat. 
The zigzag ascent was extremely heavy, the first part 
being over rocky ground, while the rest of that day’s 
journey was along a swampy trail on which the mules 
stumbled and fell many times. One of my men had a 
narrow escape from being precipitated down the chasm. 
So bad, indeed, was the trail that we went only fifteen 
kilometres, halting at the tambo of Pampas S. Nicolas. 
On January twenty-first we made a long and tedious 
march, rising all the time among slippery rocks along 
precipices, or sinking in swampy mud on the narrow trail. 
Picturesque waterfalls of great height were visible in 
volcanic vents, some square, others crescent-shaped, on 
the face of the mountain. The torrents, swollen by the 
heavy rains, were difficult to cross, my mules on several 
occasions being nearly swept away by the foaming cur¬ 
rent. We sank in deep red slush and in deep holes filled 
with water, but continued all the time to ascend a gentle 
but continuous incline. We travelled that day from six 
o’clock in the morning until six o’clock in the evening, 
rain pouring down upon us all the time. We were simply 
smothered in mud from head to foot. 
380 
