Page:Aspects of nature in different lands and different climates; with scientific elucidations (IA b29329668 0002).pdf/345

Alpine vegetation of the Paramos. Remains of ancient Peruvian
artificial roads; they rise in the Paramo del Assuay almost to the
height of the summit of Mont Blanc 269-277

Singular mode of communication by a "swimming post" messenger. 277-279

Descent to the Amazons river. Vegetation round Chamaya and
Tomependa; Red Groves of Bougainvillæa. Ridges of rock
traverse the Amazons. Its breadth at the Pongo de Manseriche
less than 160 English feet. The falling in of masses of rock at
Rentema left the bed of the river below the falls dry for some hours,
to the great alarm of those who lived on the banks 279-281

Passage across the chain of the Andes at the part where it is intersected
by the magnetic equator. Ammonites nearly 15 English
inches long, Echini, and Isocardias of the cretaceous group,
collected between Guambos and Montan, 12790 English feet above
the level of the sea. Rich silver mines of Chota. The picturesquely
towering Cerro de Gualgayoc. Large mass of pure
native silver in filaments or wire found in the Pampa de Navar.
A fine piece of pure gold, wound round with similar threads of
silver, found in the Choropampa (field of shells), so called from the
numerous fossils. Outbursts of silver and gold ores amongst the
cretaceous rocks. The small mountain town of Micuipampa is
11874 English feet above the level of the sea 282-286

From the mountain wilderness of the Paramo de Yanaguanga the
traveller descends into the beautiful valley, or rather plateau,
of Caxamarca (the elevation of which is nearly equal to that of
the city of Quito). Hot baths of the Incas. Ruins of the
Palace of Atahuallpa inhabited by his descendants, the family of
Astorpilco, who live there in the greatest poverty. Strong belief
of the still remaining subterranean "golden gardens" of the Inca
beneath the ruins; such certainly existed in the valley of Yucay.