lly. Although we
were making our way towards the east, frequently we found ourselves
riding round a mountain with our backs to the rising sun. Now we were
ascending by the side of steep precipices, and now again descending into
deep ravines. At length Don Jose gave us the satisfactory intelligence
that we had left Quito behind us to the north-west, and that we might
hope to escape falling in with hostile forces. "Still," he said
privately to John and me, "I cannot promise that we are altogether safe.
We must use great caution, and avoid as much as possible the beaten
tracks. Parties may have been sent out to the east in search of
fugitives; but we will hope for the best."

As we were ascending a mountain-side, we saw before us, winding
downwards, a long line of animals. A couple of Indians walked at the
head of the troop, while several other men came at intervals among them.
Each animal carried a small pack on its back; and we soon knew them to
be llamas, as they advanced carrying their long necks upright, with
their large and brilliant eyes, their thick lips, and long and movable
ears. They were of a brown colour, with the under parts whitish.

As we approached, in spite of the efforts of their conductors, they
scattered away up and down the mountains, leaving the path open to us.
The Indians, however, made no complaint; but as we gained a height above
them, we saw them exerting themselves to re-collect their scattered
cavalcade. They were going, Don Jose told us, to the coast, to bring
back salt--an article without which human beings can but ill support
life in any part of the world.

We soon after found ourselves travelling on a wide, lofty plain, bounded
by still higher peaks. In several directions we saw herds of llamas, as
also a smaller animal of the same species--the alpaca. It somewhat
resembles the sheep, but its neck is longer, and its head more
gracefully formed. The wool appeared very long, soft, fine, and of a
silky lustre. Some of those we saw were quite white, others black, and
others again variegated. There were vast herds of them, tended by
Indians, as sheep are by their shepherds in other parts of the world.

The following day, descending from the plain and passing through a deep
valley, we caught sight of a herd of similar creatures, which Don Jose
told us were vicunas. Their shape appeared slighter and more elegant
than that of the alpaca, with a longer and more graceful neck. The