La Junta tribune., 1917-04-12
IN HEART OF THE ANDES
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than any % the rest OF them. that
she couldn't keep up ycry well.
We arrived at Qui,ln-Quitun for
Our dinner. or breakfast as It is
called hero. and could enjoy that
meal one OF my stand-bys was
eggs cooked in the shell and | had
good ones there Quitun Is the lowest
point on the trail. and is about
1000 feet above TIE sea, II was
lovely and warm there and the men
laid down on blankets ON the porch.
All our coffee il raised at Quiiuu.
and is supposed to be the very best
grown and Il commands a high price
in Arequipa, Lima and even In Paris.
but believe me. il Is the strongest
and bitterest stuff that have ever
tasted that was named coffee.
As We left Qui,un we passed
through many coffee plants and they
reached as high as my head when
was on the mule The flower Is
small and white and Is in clusters
Of three Of four. The plant when
blossoming is very pretty.
From Quitun We began to go up,
very gradually. and the trail follows
the river all the way Sometimes
there is nothing between you and
the river but about a thousand feet
straight down, All along the way
the vegetation Is pretty and tropical.
OF course. most interesting to We
North Americans We came over
many suspension bridges which are
Just about four feet wide Most OF
Us got off and led our mules across.
because by the time you are in the
middle of the bridge II is swaying
about two feet In each direction, and
1t seems lot more when on the
mule My Maud didn't like 10 be
ridden across any way. The country
is Quite thickly populated all the
way along. and there are innumer-
able patches OF corn and potatoes.
We finally reached Arroya. and
then We began TO feel that We were
coming to our journeys end. for Il
is only four leagues or about eight
miles from there to Santo Domingo.
The company has man and his fam
ily living AT Arroyo. to take care OF
the bridge. and raise oranges ! guess
at any rate some OF the best or
anges that ! ever have eaten came
from Arroya. Mule trains almost al
ways stop there over night too. We
rested there about thirty minutes,
and the Lady OF the House" made
some delicious lemonade for US. and
then. about dark. We began the last
eight miles OF our trip
1t was wonderfully beautiful that
night Just like those you read
about. and wish could describe
II. The moon was fun that night
and by its gentle light we saw won.
dcrful eanons and tops OF mountains
In the distance Firc-flies fitted
about showing us where the darkest
we're And then We saw the electric
lights Of Santa Domingo aud glad
does not express how felt To tray-
81 and travel toward a place for so
long, and then TO have n loom up
on the mountain side. In the most
beautiful spot with sophisticated
electric lights everywhere. creates a
double feeling of glad gratitude.
When we reached the hotel the
population Of Santo Domingo had
gathered, not 30 much 10 see us. hut
because II was saturday night and
pay day Mrs Rynorson and her
daughter, Miss Evelyn. made us feel
at home Immediately had a hot
bath and was soon asleep, having
forgotten. for the time at least. the
fifty-two days Of constant travel tha,
had brought us into the heart Of the
Andes.
ESTHER MeCuNE BRINKMAN.
Tirapata. Peru. S. a, February.
1917