through one of the most frequented passer, the carriers presented a petition to the Spanish go. vernment against a measure, which, they said, would hurt their means of support, and the design was in consequence dropped.

The usual load of a carrier is from twelve to thirteen stone weight, and this they will support for eight or nine hours a day, for thirty suc cessive days; and yet they will not receive or even expect more payment than about fifty shillings, for the fatigues and hardships they are obliged to undergo.

A just idea of the stupendous height of these mountains can only be had by viewing them from the lands along the sea coast, for when seen from the neighbouring hills, a great portion of their elevation is lost. Over the valleys which lie between these mountains, bridges of rocks are sometimes to be met with, of which the most remarkable are the two which extend across the valley of Icononzo. Through this valley, there runs a deep and rapid torrent, which would have been impassable, but for a large mass of rock, sixteen yards in length and fourteen in breadth, which seems as if it had fallen from the mountain above and rested low down in the valley, though still at a height of six hundred feet from the bottom: this reaches across from bank to bank of the stream, which rushes beneath, and on it has descended a second rock of the same shape and dimensions, which

resting securely on the other, they form, per haps, one of the most singular objects in nature.

Nor is the second bridge less extraordinary in its construction than this; it is situated sixty feet lower down in the valley, and consists of three enormous masses of rock, that have fallen down together so as to meet in their descent, and to form an arch, the middle rock serving as a key-stone, and the two end ones resting firmly on the bank at either side. In the centre of this bridge, there is a hole full eight yards square, through which is seen the deep gulph beneath, and numberless birds are observed hovering over the water, which flows through so dark a cavern that the sides cannot be distinguished. These bridges cannot be approached without much risk, as a narrow path alone leads to them along the brink of the precipice, so that they are only visited by the Indians and the few travellers whose curiosity induces them to ven, ture into such desolate regions.

Such are the bridges formed by nature; but in parts where it is necessary to have recourse to artificial means for crossing the torrents, the people make use of a rude though very in genious contrivance. Two strong cables, formed of the roots of plants twisted together to the thickness of a man's leg, are stretched across, from bank to bank of the stream, at about four or five feet distance from each other; the ends on the one side of the river being made fast tæ

a trestle of wood, while on the other, they are wound round a windlass, for the purpose of stretching or slackening them at pleasure. Across these are placed long sticks, laid at equal distances, the whole length of the bridge, and large boughs of trees are strewn thickly over them, which form a kind of flooring; two smaller cables are then extended on each side, a few feet above this floor, and serve as ballustrades; and upon these rude bridges, the Indians pass back and forward regardless of danger, though a European traveller shudders at the idea of venturing his life upon what appears to him from a distance, only like ribbands suspende ed in the air over a great precipice. The dan ger, however, is not great when a single person passes over it with a quick and even step, keeping his body leaning forwards; but the swinging of the bridge becomes very violent when two persons pass at the same time, without keeping pace with each other; or when one of them, frightened by the view of the water, which he sees through the openings of the bran ches, has the imprudence to stop in the middle and catch hold suddenly of the ropes that serve as a rail.

Such are the perils to which the adventurous traveller is exposed, who would undertake so hazardous an enterprize, as the journey from Quito to Santa Fe.

Some of the rivers are passed by means of an invention called a Tarabita, This machine

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carries over not only the passengers but also their cattle and burdens, and is used to pass those torrents, whose rapidity, and the large stones continually rolling along them, render it impossible for the mules to swim over them.This contrivance consists of a single rope, made of thongs of ox hide, which being fastened to the most elevated bank of the torrent, is carried over and secured on the lower shore; from this rope, hangs a kind of leathern hammock, capable of holding a man, to the end of which, ropes are fastened, which reach to each bank; when the hammock is to be sent over, the one is pulled to draw it along, while the other is held from the opposite side to check its motion, and prevent it passing over with too great velocity.

When cattle are carried over, the poor animals are suspended by girths put round the body, and fastened to a sling which runs freely along the rope; when thus secured, the slightest push sends it off, and though such as are unaccustomed to be carried over in this manner, when they find themselves suspended in the air, kick and plunge violently, others (especially the mules) who have been habituated to it, submit quite tamely, and even come of themselves to have the girths fastened. These bridges are often at a height of from twenty to thirty fathoms above the surface of the water, and the chasms over which they are thrown, are usually forty fathoms wide from bank to bank.

In a country where the ground is so unequal