At five in the morning on the 4th of September we set out for the missions of the Chaima Indians and the high mountains crossing New Andalusia. Because of the road's extreme difficulties we had been advised to reduce our equipment as much as we could. Two mules sufficed to carry our provisions, our instruments and the paper necessary to dry plants. Our box contained a sextant, a dipping needle, an instrument to determine magnetic variation, thermometers and Saussure's hygrometer. (43) Choosing the instruments caused us most problems on the short journeys.