[85] Even this has now (August, 1869) ceased, save an occasional grumble, and the Tacungans are trembling with fear of another eruption.
[86] Compare the following sections:
| Cotopaxi (near Tiupullo). | Vesuvius (at Pompeii). | ||||||||
| Soil | 1 | ft. | 0 | in. | Soil | 3 | ft. | 0 | in. |
| Fine yellow pumice | 5 | " | 0 | " | Brown incoherent tuff | 1 | " | 6 | " |
| Compact black ashes, with seams of pumice | 10 | " | 0 | " | Small scoriæ and white lapilli | 0 | " | 3 | " |
| Fine yellow pumice | 1 | " | 6 | " | Brown earthy tuff | 4 | " | 9 | " |
| Compact black ashes | 12 | " | 0 | " | Whitish lapilli | 0 | " | 1 | " |
| Fine yellow pumice | 2 | " | 0 | " | Gray solid tuff | 0 | " | 3 | " |
| Compact black ashes, with seams of pumice. | Pumice and white lapilli | 0 | " | 3 | " | ||||
[87] Immediately south of Cotopaxi, the Cordillera consists of paramos sown with lakes and morasses, and is rarely covered with snow. Llanganati is probably from llánga, to touch: they touch the sources of nearly all the Ecuadorian rivers.
[88] The story is doubtless due to the fact that the eastern streams, which issue from the foot of this cordillera, are auriferous.
[89] From Tungúri, the ankle-joint, alluding to its apical angle. It is a little steeper than Cotopaxi, having a slope of 38°.
[90] Spruce asserts that he saw smoke issuing from the western edge in 1857; and Dr. Terry says that in 1832 smoke ascended almost always from the summit. Dr. Taylor, of Riobamba, informs the writer that smoke is now almost constantly visible. The characteristic rock is a black vitreous trachyte resembling pitchstone, but anhydrous.
[91] La Condamine (1742) adds "sulphur and bitumen."
[92] Compare the table-lands in the Old World:
| Thibet | 11,500 | feet. |
| South Africa | 6,000 | " |
| Mysore (India) | 2,880 | " |
| Spain | 2,240 | " |
| Bavaria | 1,770 | " |