The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-11-25


a Day aad Might In shs Pane wssas.
On the 18th OF January, 1910, having
passed the nigh, in the hut Of Puma shep-
herd, swoke next morning at day-break.
The sun was Just beginning to cast slight
tinge Of red on the snow-capped tops Of the
Cordillera. Through the aperture in the
roof Of the hut, which served the purpose OF
q chimney, there penetrated feeble light.
Just sufficient to show the misery and pow
srty that prevailed in the interior of the hab-
italion. | rose from the resting place on
which. only few hours previously, | had
stretched myself exhausted by cold and fa-
tigue, and raising the cew-hide, which clos
cd the door Of the hat, crept out to make
preparations for the continuance OF my
journey.
| saddled my mule, and put into one OF
the saddle-bsgs a small supply OF food
Whilst | was thus engaged, one Of those
fierce little dogs, which are domiciled in ev-
cry Indian hut, silly watched my movements;
and though he had rested at the foot of my
bed during the night, he was only prevented,
BY the repeated threats Of his master, from
making an attack upon me. My Indian
host handed me my gun; | paid for my
nights lodging, by a few reals and some
paper cigars; and having asked him to di
rect me on my way, ! rode off whilst be
was expressing his gratitude, and his kline
wishes in the words, "Dios los pdgus"
The sky was overhung by thick mist
and the snow which had fallen during the
night covered the ground as far as the eye
could reach. On my way | met an old In
dian woman driving her sheep. The bleat
ing flock moved slowly on, leaving a deer
furrow in the snow, and seeming impatien
till the genial sun should dispel the mist anc
dissolve the white covering which overspresd
their scsnty pasture. A little further on
met the SON Of this same Indian shepherdess
He and his dog were busily engaged in
catching partridges, destined to be sold or
the following Sunday, in the nearest vii
lage.
My road lay along gentle ACTIVITY, in,
terspersed with rocks and swamps, which
often obliged ne to make wide detours.--
The swamps Tor IS the natives call them,
Aaoladeros) are dangerous enemies to trav-
elen in the Puma who, with their horses
and mules, sometimes sink into them and
perish. Even in the most open parts of the
country, it is not easy to discern the swamPs,
and The ground often sinks beneath the rider
where he least expects it. At length the
sun began 10 dispeIse the mist, and the snow
gradually melted beneath his burning rays.
Inspired with new vigor, took a survey cf
the wild solitude around me. was now
on one Of the level heights, about ID 900
feet above the sea. On both sides arose
The high Cordiller, submits. crowned with
eternal ice; detached peaks here and there
towering 10 the skies. Behind me lay, deep
sr and deeper. the dark valleys of tine low.
or mountain regions, which, with the scarce
" discernible Indian villages, receded in
the distance, till they blended with the line
of The horizon. Before me stretched the
unreasonable extent Of the level heights, at
intervals broken by ridges Of hills. 1t seem
cd as though here, ia the snow plains Of the
Cordillers, Nature had breaihed out her
las, Lreath. Here life and death meet to-
Relher, a. IL were, to maintain the eternal
struggle between being and humiliation.
How liule life had the sun yet Weakened
around me- The dull, yellow Puma grass,
scarcely the length Of ones finger, blended
It's tint with the greenish hue of the glaciers.
Advancing further on my onward course,
how joyfully greeted as an old acquaint-
once, the purple gentian and the brown
euIceolaria. With what pleasure counted
the yellow blossoms of the echinocactusl
and presently the sign Of the snanas-cactus
pictured in my mind ell the luxuriance OF
the primevsl forests. These cacti were
growing amidst rushes and moses and syn
sene.es, which the frost had changed to a
rusty brown hue. Not a butterfly huttered
in the rsrehed atmosphere; no fly nor wing
cd insect Of any kind was discernible. A
beetle or toad creeping from their holes,
or lizard warming himself in the sun, are
all that reward the search OF the naturalist.
As | iourneyed onward, animate life ava.
kened in rich variety around me. Birds,
Few ia species, but numerous in individuals,
everywhere met my view. Herds Of vicu.
mas approached me with curious gaze, and
then on sudden fed with the swiftness OF
the wind. In the distance, observed
stately groups OF huanacus turning cautious
ly to look at me, and then passing on
The Puma stag QarsaslD slowly advanced
from his lair in the mountain recesses. and
fixed on me his large, black, wondering
eyes; whilst the nimbls rock rabbits (pis-
eachas) plsyfully dispofted and nibbled the
scanty herbage growing in the mountain
crevices.
/ had wandered for come hours admirine
the varieties Of life in this peculiar alpine
region, when | stumbled against dead
mule. The poor animal had probably sunk
beneath his burthen; and had been leh by
Bile driver to perishof cold and hunger. My
presence startled three voracious condors,
which were feeling on thsd dead carcass =
These kings Of The sir proudly shook their
crowned heads, and dafted at me furious
glsnces with their bleedfed eyes. Two of
Asm rose on their giant wings, and in mar