Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-03-21
TFrom Sir +. Heads Work.
Passage Across the Andes.


As soon as we crossed the pass, which is only
seventy yards long, the captain told me that it
was a very bad place for baggage mules that
four hundred had been lost there, and that we
should also very probably lose one. de SAID that
be would get down to the water about hundred
yards off. and wait there with his lasso to catch
whatever might fall into the torrent, and he re-
quested me to lead on his mule However, was
resolved to see the tumble if there was to be one
so the captain took away his mule and my own.
and while stood on projecting rock at the end
of the pass, he scrambled down on foot till at
last he got to the level of the water.
The drove of mules now came in sight, one
following another. A few were carrying no bur
thens, but the rest were either mounted or heavily
laden and, as they wound along the crooked
path, the different colors and shapes of the bag
gage which they were carrying, with the pctu-
rescue dress of the poems, who were vociteratng
the wild song by which they drive on the mules,
and the dangerous path they had to cross, formed
altogether very interesting scene.
As soon as the leading mule came to the COM
mencement Of the pass, he stopped, evidently
unwilling to proceed; and of course all the rest
stopped also. He was the finest mule we had,
and on that account had twice as much to carry
as any of the others. His load had never been
relieved and it consisted of four portmanteaus,
two of which belonged to me, and which contained
not only very heavy bag of dollars, but also
]
hardly have continued my journey without then.
The poems now redoubled their cries, and leaning
over the sides of their mules and picking up
stones they threw them at the leading mule who
now commenced his journey over the path. With
his nose down to the ground, literally smelling
his way, he walked gently on, after changing the
position of his feet if he found the ground would
would not bear, until he came to the bad part Of
the pass, where be again stopped. Then | GER
tainly began to look with great anxiety at my
portmauteaus, but the poems threw stones at him,
and he continued his path, and reached me in
safety; several others followed.
At last young mule, carrying portmanteau,
with two large sacks of provisions and many other
things, in passing the bad point struck his load
against the rock which knocked his two hind
legs over the precip;ce and the loose stones i'm
mcdiately began to roll from under them. How
ever his fore legs were still upon the narrow
path he had no room to put his head there but
he placed his nose on the path on his left, and
appeared to hold on by his mouth.
His perilous fate soon decided by a loose
mule which came after him, and knocking his
comrades nose off the path, destroyed the bal
auce and heels over head the poor creature in
stantly commenced fall which was really quite
terrific. With all his baggage firmly lashed to
him, he rolled down the steep slope. until he
came to the part which was perpendicular and
then, seeming to bound off and turning around
in the air, fell into the deep torrent on his back
aud baggage, and instantly disappeared
/ thought, of course, that he was killed; but Ne
rose appeared wild and scared and immediately
endeavored to stem the torrent which was ioamng
about him. For moment he seemed to succeed
but the eddy suddenly caught the great load on
his back, and turned Sim completely over. Down
went his head with all his baggage, and he was
carried down the stream. AS suddenly, however
he came up again but he was now weak, and
went down the stream, turned around and around
hy the eddy, until passing the corner Of the rock
| lost sight Of him.
saw, however, the poems with their lassoes in
their hands, run down the side of the torrent for
some little distance, bat they soon stopped. and
after looking towards the mule for some seconds
their earnest attitude gradually relaxed, and when
they walked towards me concluded that all was
over. | walked up to the peons and was just
going to speak 80 them, when | saw at distance
Il solitary mule walking towards US. We instant
ly perceived that he was the same whose fall we
had just witnessed, and in few moments be
came up to Us to join his comrades.