PECULIAR FORMATION 
view of the great expanse of undulating country to the 
south and southeast, while it was almost absolutely flat 
to the west as far as the horizon line. 
To the southwest were distinguishable some extraordi¬ 
nary-looking, cylindrical tablelands, like immense sections 
of columns, rising well above the horizon line. To the 
south, in the distance, a peculiar formation of mountains 
could be seen: first a separate, prismatic mountain like 
a gabled roof, with a well-defined, vertical, high wall 
standing all along its longitudinal apex line. Parallel to 
this and to one another were three sets of mountains, with 
such steep sides that they seemed like gigantic walls 
standing up on the flat country. Behind them was a flat- 
topped plateau with a small cone rising above it. The 
sides of the latter plateau formed a steep escarpment. To 
the southeast was a domed plateau, red in its lower section, 
green on the top. Between this plateau and the last wall- 
like mountain, several hundred feet in height, stood a 
conical peak with a natural tower of rock upon it. 
Beyond, to the southeast, could just be perceived two 
pyramidal mountains, but they were very distant and 
scarcely visible. The valley itself was greatly furrowed 
in deep, long channels. Due south were dome-like 
mounds — each of these, mind you, standing out indi¬ 
vidually upon an almost flat plain. 
In the northwestern corners of the great, quad¬ 
rangular, Paredao rock I saw a spot where it would have 
been quite easy to climb up to the summit, as portions of 
the rock had crumbled down and had left an incline. But 
I had no object in making the ascent on that side, 
especially as I had already obtained the view I required 
from the south side. Also because I was heavily laden, 
carrying cameras, aneroids, a large prismatic compass, 
and three heavy bags of money slung to the belt round 
my waist, and did not feel up to the extra and useless 
exertion. Great arches with a span of over eighty metres 
vol. i. — 17 257 
