Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-03

VOLCANO STUDIEs.-The Central Andes
contains number of hidden craters, which
now and then become vicarious to the
obstructed vents of the regular chimneys
All Northern Ecquador seems,in fact, to
arise from the workshops of Tartarus, and
scarcely day passes that the Titans do
not assert that activity in some way or
other. Every now and then the stiffness
of the upper Paramos is broken by the
crash of an avalanche. The concussions,
which, like fever tremers, vibrae through
the bones of the mountains shake down
all loose rocks and loosen others, and the
highland streams have to force their way
through such mountainous heans of gravel
that the rain floods scarcely suffice to keep
their channels open, and many of them.
like the Rio Esmeraldas, run for miles
below piles of boulders that defy the dis
lodging ability of the current. These
avalanches make the Paramos rather
unsafe. The crash of their descent often
startles the explorer of the highlands on
slopes where neither tree nor cliffs afford
shelter, and where life or death may
depend upon a single step. In such mo-
ments herd of Andes cows would be
study for painter. Swiss cattle would be
sure to stampede, but in Ecquador ex ,eri.
enco has taught them u trick or two,
Instead of running away they stand stock
still and watch the slope with strainng
ewes. If the cannonade comes down a
little to the left or right they move slowly
in tee opposite direction; but if it comes
right towards them, they know better than
TO risk a broadsde, and generally manage
to save their lives by facing the volley and
trying to dodge the individual bombs. The
herder looks out for Il tree, and that fail
ing filings himself fiat upon the ground; as
the larger rocks come down in wide
bounds, the odds are that they will not
touch him. 1t is the safest plan; but
temerity is as capricous as the code of
honor; there are men who would rather
charge battery than touch snake,
while others surround themselves with
whole menagerie of venomous pets, but
blanch at the sight of a pocket pistol Be.
tween Loxa and Quito once followed the
example of my travelling companions, two
furloughed United States midshipmen,
who had got off the stage coacn to help
the mules across a steep bluff. We had
hardly aligh,ed when the driver had to
apply his whip to dodge a stone volley
| tllal Cllne CTdSuluS lHlouSu tle ululnoIeS
of the upper slope. It was curious how,
even in full trot, the mules pricked up
their ears and watched the advent of the
voley; but still more amusing was the
behavior Cf the two cadets They stood
bolt upright. and cheered each bomb IS if
they were standing on the target beach of
Annapolis, while our equatorial fellow
travellers were crouching down in the
most deferental attitudes. Bodily prostra
ton somehow suggests the idea OF self
abasement, but it is all custom.
By the special mercy Of Providence the
perennial ash rains of Mount Sangay are
cold, but the northern volcanoes often
heat the atmosphere with burning cinders,
and if a strong wind blows those tire-fes
against the plateau of the peighborng
highlands the fleet is apt to burn itself
iato the memory of the su prised traveller.
1t is like passing through the spray Of a
flaming coal oil tank, or through cloud
of the lsetsy gnats that pierce shirt and
Jacket; for, like the steel chips of a Besse-
mer hammer work, the sparks from The
smithy OF Vulcan preserve their caloric
for minutes together.