th, that every enjoyment must be
earned by labor. The road is broken, narrow, and steep; over the woody
sides of the hill it is easily passable; but as soon as it begins to
descend, it presents all those difficulties which have been
interestingly described by the early travellers in Peru. The scanty
population of the surrounding districts, the native listlessness of the
Indians, and their indifference to the conveniences of life, are
obstacles to the making of roads which might be passable without
difficulty and danger. However, where nature from the state of the
country has compelled man to establish a communication, it is executed
in the most rude and unsatisfactory manner. A most decided proof of this
is apparent in the bridges called _barbacoas_, which are constructed
where the way is through a _derumbo_, or a small narrow mountain-pass,
or where there is an obstruction caused by a rock which cannot be passed
circuitously. The barbacoas are constructed in the following manner.
Stakes from three to three and a half feet long are driven into the
ground, or into the crevices of rocks. Over the ends of these stakes are
fastened strong branches of trees, the interstices are filled up with
mud, and the whole is covered by a sort of matting composed of plaited
branches and reeds. If the ground admits of it, which is seldom the
case, a pile of stones is built up beneath the barbacoa, extending to at
least one half its breadth. When it is considered that there is,
probably, on the one side of this bridge, a rock inclining at a very
acute angle, or an almost perpendicular declivity of a hill of loose
earth, and that on the other side there yawns a deep abyss against which
there is not the least protection, the traveller may well be pardoned if
he shudders as he passes over the creaking and shaking barbacoa. These
fragile bridges are often so much worn, that the feet of the mules slip
through the layers of mud and reeds, and whilst making efforts to
disengage themselves, the animals fall over the edge of the barbacoa,
and are hurled into the chasm below, dragging down the crazy structure
along with them. In consequence of these accidents, the way is often for
weeks, or even months, impassable.

In the construction of these rude bridges, I observed that the Indians,
in their simplicity, always faithfully copy their great instructress,
nature. The majority of the plants growing in these regions belong, if I
may use the expressio