To the north and northeast were pine-covered plateaus and hills in seemingly infinite successions; on the eastern horizon my eyes met the dark, massive heights of Chuhuichupa, followed towards the south by ridge upon ridge of true sierras with sharp, serrated crests, running mainly from northwest to southeast.

And between them and me was an expanse of gloomy, pine-hidden cordons, one succeeding close upon another, and running generally in the same direction as the sierras.

Primeval stillness and solitude reigned all over the woodland landscape.

I like the society of man, but how welcome and refreshing are occasional moments of undisturbed communion with Nature! On the following day the pack train moved along the path I had walked over.

We were pleasantly surprised to find at this season, the middle of December, and at this elevation, a species of violet in bloom, while _Lupinus_ and _Vicia_ were already in seed.