Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-11-04
ASCENT OF CHIMBORAZO.

Bonplands Soutn American eXpedltlon
was the ascent of the Chimborazo, which
is thus given by the Compiler of Hum
boldt's Travels, from the Personal Mar
rative" of the great traveller:
On the 22d of June, the birthday of
his brother, Humboldt commenced his as
cent of Chimborazo, accompanied by
Bonpland and Carlos de Montufar, a
young Spanish naturalist. They started
from the plain of Tapia, at an elevation
of over nine thousand feet. This arid
table-land was near the village of Lican,
the ancient residence of the sovereigns of
Quito. From Lican to the summit of
Chimborazo was nearly five leagues in a
straight line. They followed the plain,
leaving behind them groups of Indians
bound to the market of Lican, and slowly
ascending, halted for the night at the little
village of Calpi. They were now at the
foot of >Chimborazo. 1t rose before them
stupendously in the light of the setting
sun. The foreground was vailed in the
vaporous dimness that striped the lower
strata Of the air, but as they cast their
eye toward the summit it detached itself
from the deep blue sky. They saw above
the region of ligneous plants and alpine
shrubs broad belt of grass like gilded
yellow carpet. Beyond this was region
of porphyritic rocks, and beyond these
rocks, eternal ice and snow. AS the earth
below grew darker, the heaven above
seemed to grow brighter; their sight was
dazzled with the refulgent splendor of
the snow.
Early the next morning their Indian
guides awoke them, and they began to
climb the mountain on the southwestern
side. traversjng the great plains which
rose like terraces, one above another, un-
til they reached the plain of Sirgun
twelve thousand four hundred feet above
the level of the sea. Here Humboldt
wished to make trignometical measure.
Eaent to ascertain the hight Of the summit
but it was shrouded in thick clouds
From time to time they caught moment
ary glimpse of it, through openings IL
the clouds, but the sky was gradually
darkening. They continued to ascend
until they reached the little lake of Yam;
Cocha, a circular basin one hundred anC
thirty feet in diameter. 1t was the mos
elevated spot yet reached by man on tn
ridge of mountains, three thousand thre'
hundred feet higher than the summit O
Mont Blanc. Here they left their mules
The barometer showed hight of fourtee
thousand three hundred and fl fly e e
Crossing the yellow belt of grass whic
they had seen over night they came t
a region of augite. Here rocks rose i
columns fifty or sixty feet high, and look
ed like the trunks of. trees. Traversin
the isles of this enchanted forest of stone
over fields of new fallen snow, they gair
ed narrow ridge which led directly
the summit of Chimborazo, and by whic
alone they might hope to reach it; for th
snow around was too soft and yielding
be ventured upon. The path becam
sleeper and narrower, and at last tt
guides refused to 60 any further. Whe
they were sixteen thousand five hundre
feet high, all but one left them. Nothin
daunted, however, the travellers went {
enveloped in thick mist. The pa
which they were ascending was in mar
places not more than eight or ten inch
broad the natives called it 'knife-blad
On one hand was a declivity of sno
covered with a CLASSY coating of ice,
the other a chasm one thousand feet dee
the bottom of which was covered wi
masses of naked rocks. They ihclin
their bodies over this chasm, dangero
as it was, for they dared not trust the
selves to the snowy pitch on the opos
side. Had they stumbled, they wou
either have been buried in the mingl
snow and ice, or would have rolled hes
long down the steep. The character
the rock, which was brittle and crumblir
increased the difficulty of the asce
Here and there they were obliged
crawl on their hands and feet; the sha
edges of the rock wounded them, and th
left behind them bloody trail. Th
marched in single file, testing with tn
poles the stability Of the rocks bef'
them. This precaution was very nee
sary, as many of the rocks were ly
loose on the brink of the preeipice.
sirous of knowing how much of the mo-
tain remained to be ascended, for
summit was continually hidden from th
sight, Humboldt opened the barome
on a point'whare the path was bro
enough to allow TWO persons to sit S
I L. 4