Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-31
In the Andes.

A Famous MOuntain-CIimber in the
 Clouds of South America-Escape from
 Pumas.
 The London Spectator publishes the fol- lowing letter from MT. Whymper, the famous mountain climber, written to friend in Lon don. He is in South America, and is accom- panied by the two Carlos, the well-known Swiss guides Jean Antoine Carrel is the man who made the first ascent of the Matterhorn on the south of Breuil side. MT. Whymper says:
 After an absence of forty. one days, l have just returned to Quito. During this time had six nights in bed, passed seven without any shelter whatever, and the re- mainder in tents at attitudes varying from 10, 900 to IA, 500 feet. We were drenched every day, and everything became so hope lessly sodden with water that it was lmpossl- ble to get dry. On Saraurcu it rained on one occasion for seventy hours without ceas1ng for minute, and for moro than six and half days out of seven consecutive ones. The constant exposure and considerable variations in the temperature threw me on my back, and had constant diarrhua, which it was inn possible to check, as all our medicines were exhausted. I returned to Quito five inches less round the waist than when started, and so weak that could scarcely ride or walk. Strength is returning now, but am not up to the mark for hi gh aseents, and shall have to wait here until better. Our objects on this last northern journey were the exploration and ascents of Cayambee, Saraurcu and Coto- cachi and the collection of Inca antiquities
 We succeeded completely, but, as you see, at a somewhat severe cost. Cayambe is 19, 200 feet, Saraurcu is 15, ,6Oo and Cotocachi 16, 200 feet high. The ascent of the highest noun tain gave us least trouble and the lowest one gave us most. I waited for fourteen days before could see it, as it was almost perpet- ually enve1oped in mist. To arrive at it we had to force our way through virgin forest, for it lies well away to the east of the other Andes, and is beyond the region of paths or tracks All it's waters descend to the Ama- zon. variety of cane which is found here, growing nine or ten feet high, forms an al most impenetrable jungle, and you have to cut or force your way through it as best you can. The leaves cut like razors, and their points pierce like needles. The mountains hereabout are everywhere like saturated sponges, through the incessant rains, and for days we waded, rather than walked, over them. The puma, tapir and bears are com mon around Saraurcu, and their tracks are very numerous. I saw one magnificent bear crashing through the cane, as though it quite enjoyed it, and others of my party saw ta- pirs. One morning we found puma tracks round our tent, but we did not see the brute Wild and savage cattle are also numerous around Saraurcu, and are sometimes of great size and power. They are escaped cattle (ol the descendants of escaped cattle) from the farms around Cavampe, and sometimes very ferocious. There were two immense bulls that we saw several times which trot- ted about at an amazing pace, and which tooI leaps like chamois. J. A. Carrel was out one day trying to do a little bit of exploration and was attacked from the rear by these
 beasts. He was looking over a precipice peering into the fog, when hearing some noise he turned round and saw them approach ing from opposite directions with lowered heads, ready to give him a lift over. He
 bolted up little peak, with both in close think, two hours. Whenever he tried to es cape they rushed at him, but at last he sue ceeded by feint in enticing them both to the same side and scrambled down the other and outwitted them.