Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-13
A PerilOas Journey across the
COrdilIeras.

A PerilOaS Journey across tic
COrdilleras.
| In narrative of a journey, by recent
traveller, F, Gerstaecker, the following Is
startling description of perilous jour
ney-
1.-THE path, indeed, had become so mar.
row that it seemed to meas 1T wound ltseli
round projecting rock, absolutely to ter
inmate. could see nothing more thar a
thin light streak, as if drawn with piece
of chalk and could not believe that tins
was our path. The rock round which II
went did not show the least cut or notch,
where even a goat could have planted its
feet, let alone our clumsy mules. The lit
tie crumbling pieces of stone which our
mules hoofs Kicked overthe precipice, made
me sensible Of the danger, falling straight
down to depth that my blood froze to
think of. But this was no place to stop at;
and I observed closely the cautious manner
in which my guide raised himself in his
right stirrup, not doubling that We were now
at the spot of which he had told me before,
and where mules and riders were often
thrown over. I was therefore careful not
to irritate my mule at place where It Ger
talnly knew better how to 60 than did
accidents having happened from travellers
pulling their brides at the wrong time
My guide went on very coolly along trail
where mules had to7keep the very edge OF
the precipice. Mules frequently carry a
load over this track, when they are very
careful not to knock against the overhang-
ing rock,a the least push would send them
over the precipice. Our mules, it is true,
had no load, bu! they were accustomed TO
carrying one and therefore kept the ex-
treme edge.Qto my great discomposure.-
But / left it entirely to its own instinct, on
ly lifting my. left foot in the stlrrup, as
sa the vaquiano do, SO that, in case of an
accident,I might throw myself offits back,
and cling to the rock. But why, the rea-
der may ask, did you not get off the mule
at once, and pass dangerous places on foot'
Simply my reader, in the first place, be-
cause the danger is the same for many
miles and secondly, because those men
who pass their lives in leading men over
these mountain, known best where to walk
and where to ride, and followed the exam
pie my guide set me. Nor, to tell the truth,
did at the moment think of anything but
my mule, as he moved slowly,step by step,
round the yawning abyss, with scarcely
three inches to spare on either side. AS
we proceeded the path got still narrower,
the abyss seemed deeper and looking down
once, between the mules side and my STIR
sups,I saw below in the deep hollow per-
feet heap of skeletons-mules that must
have tumbled down since the last f1ood-or
their bones would have been washed away.
In my horror l forgot the warning OF the
vaquiano, and graspng the reins of my
mule, tried to turn away from the edge,
which seemed to me as if it must crumble
beneath its next step. My imprudence was
near being fatal TO me, for turning the head
of my mule away from the preclplce,it lost
its sure footing, stepped aside, and striking
the saddle bags against the. rock, 1T stum-
bled forward, and-no, dear reader, no
such thing-we did not tremble. The mule
planted its fore hoofs on firm part of the
crumbling ledge, and lifted itself up again,
Just as small piece Of stone loosened by
the effort, fell noiselessly from the path, and
springing from under us, toppled over, and
struck long afterwards with dull, hollow
sound into the deep. Irleed not be asham-
ed to say that this little incident made me
tremble, and | thought the blood became
stagnani in my veins But mules are splen-
did animals for such route; and whether
for the sake of their rider or their own, they
proceed with the utmost caution, as | had
now learnt from experience. From that
moment I left the mule to do as he pleas
ed, and he carried me safely over"