Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE POTTER
'
S CLAY
A Quichua Indian woman practising the art of her ancestors.
Wehadtofordseveral dangerousrivers,andattimes wewereclimbing upsomegiddymoun-
tainsides, but my surefooted horses soon developed into good and cautious mountaineers and
never showed signs of nervousness, even if we were bordering deep precipices. This caused
me great satisfaction and gave me confidence, for I had long been wondering how they would
behave in rough and dangerous mountain country.
One day, as we were nearing the summit of a high pass I happened to meet an Indian who,
unlike his kin, was not afraid of me, and although we could not understand each other we car-
ried on a lively conversation chiefly by means of signs and much to our mutual amusement.
The good Indian was continuously pointing towards the horizon where I noticed a strange,
small, yellow cloud. It was obvious that my new acquaintance was trying to make me un-
derstand something, and when he beckoned to me to follow him behind a fair-sized rock I
began to realise that something abnormal was about to happen with the weather. Within a few
minutes a formidable wind began to sweep the mountain top, having arrived with the sudden-
ness and strength of an avalanche. Presently hailstones, some of which were the size of small
eggs, were blown horizontally past us, and I am certain that we would have met with disaster
