Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/217

1838.] ascent à pied. The first efforts, owing to the long- grass, were fatiguing, and the mate was hors de combat before we had reached half way. As we ascended, the grass failed, breeze freshened, and spirits rose, and at nine we had turned the crater lip.

Our guides were certainly not at home at this work, and at this moment, when it was time to be observing, my hopes were nearly annihilated by the peak presenting itself on the opposite side of the crater, and apparently inaccessible without great difficulty.

At first we descended to the edge of the inner cone, from whence I thought I discovered a narrow pass; and it was only by dint of perseverance and determination that we could persuade the guides to re-shoulder the instruments and remount. Difficulties vanished on gaining the lip, and we found a very comfortable and well-beaten track on an easy ascent, which the stray, or now wild bullocks, had prepared for us to the summit.

I was fortunate enough to obtain all my observations, by which this position and its height were secured. It is five thousand five hundred and sixty-two feet above the mean tide-level, and two thousand five hundred and sixty-two feet above the pine range. Range of temperature during our stay (from half past ten until half past one) 77°·5 to 80°.

I was unfortunate in the day. It blew fresh, M 2