The scenery was grand: to the westward there was a fine chaos of mountains, divided by profound ravines.

Some snow generally falls before this period of the season, and it has even happened that the Cordillera have been finally closed by this time.

But we were most fortunate.

The sky, by night and by day, was cloudless, excepting a few round little masses of vapour, that floated over the highest pinnacles.

I have often seen these islets in the sky, marking the position of the Cordillera, when the far-distant mountains have been hidden beneath the horizon.
APRIL 6, 1835.
In the morning we found some thief had stolen one of our mules, and the bell of the madrina.