above the ocean level. There was very
little vegetation around them. Nothing that deserved the name of tree,
if we except a few stunted specimens of quenoa trees (_Polylepis
racemosa_), and here and there patches of the Ratanhia shrub
(_Krameria_), which covered the hill-sides. Both these are used by the
mountain Indians as fuel, but the Ratanhia is also a favourite remedy
against dysentery and blood-spitting. Its extract is even exported to
European countries, and is to be found in the shop of the apothecary.

Now and then a beautiful species of locust was seen with its bright red
flowers. It was the "Sangre de Christo" of the Peruvian _flora_.

Don Pablo Romero was a naturalist, and I may here tell you a pleasant
and interesting fact--which is, that many of the earliest patriots and
revolutionists of Spanish America were men who had distinguished
themselves in natural science--in fact, were the "savans" of these
countries. I call this a pleasant fact, and you may deem it a curious
one too, because men of science are usually lovers of peace, and not
accustomed to meddle either in war or politics. But the truth of the
matter is this,--under the government of the viceroys all books, except
those of a monkish religion, were jealously excluded from these
countries. No political work whatever was permitted to be introduced;
and the people were kept in the grossest ignorance of their natural
rights. It was only into learned institutions that a glimmering of the
light of freedom found its way, and it was amongst the professors of
these institutions that the "rights of men" first began to be discussed.
Many of these noble patriots were the first victims offered up on the
altar of Spanish-American independence.

Don Pablo, I have said, was a naturalist; and it was perhaps the first
journey he had ever made without observing attentively the natural
objects that presented themselves along his route. But his mind was
busy with other cares; and he heeded neither the _fauna_ nor _flora_.
He thought only of his loved wife and dear children, of the dangers to
which he and they were exposed. He thought only of increasing the
distance between them and his vengeful enemies. During that day they
had made a toilsome journey of fifteen miles, up the mountain--a long
journey for the llamas, who rarely travel more than ten or twelve; but
the dumb brutes seemed to exert themselves as if they knew that danger
threatened those who