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CH. xix IN THE ECUADOREAN ANDES 203
In my last excursion to Tunguragua I was obliged
to leave several things because I had no paper to
put them in. I have just returned from Riobamba,
after a stay there of nearly a month with Dr. Taylor.
Like Ambato, it stands in the midst of sandy deserts
where hardly any vegetation is visible save the
fences of Agave and Cactus and the common weeds
that grow in their shelter. I made a desperate
attempt to get in at the southern side of Tunguragua,
where there is a magnificent waterfall (Huandis-
agua) which comes down from the very
snow at three
leaps into the warm valley of Capil full 8000 feet ;
for this purpose I moved to Penipe, about four
leagues east of Riobamba, and from thence reached
the cataract in an excursion of fourteen hours. But
what with alternately wading in the cold snowwater
and climbing up cliffs in a burning sun, I
was confined to bed for four days afterwards with
fever and rheumatic pains from head to foot. The
worst was that, so dried up was the forest with the
protracted summer, I did not get a single plant
in good state. The weather is still dry, and until
the rains come there will be no herborising ;
I
but
am occupied in arranging and packing my Barios
collections, which I hope to dispatch to Guayaquil
in June. In May I ought to revisit Banos to
of two fine Orchises I found on
procure plants
Tunguragua.
I should be very glad to return to England, as
you recommend me, to distribute my mosses, but I
am fearful of again falling into delicate health if I
go there. I have, besides, no funds beyond what
are in your hands; these would soon be exhausted,
and poverty is such a positive crime in England,