48 
the mountain was completely obscured. Urged by a strong 
west wind, the cloud broke from time to time against the 
sides of the dome, and gaye us a transient view of the peak 
at a height and distance that were by no means encouraging. 
After resting, however, for a few minutes, we proceeded 
across the base of the dome, trusting that the cloud would 
be dissipated by the meridian sun; nor were we in this 
respect altogether disappointed. . In the meantime, we found 
the ground, as we advanced, a perfect swamp, studded with 
tufts of small rushy plants, that gave way under the slightest 
pressure. Here also we had to pass through extensive 
patches of fern (Lomaria robusta), the stems of which, like 
junks of old cable, trail along the ground, and cross and 
recross one another in such an intricate manner, that it 
required all our circumspection to avoid stumbling over 
them. Further on, the ground becomes more firm, but is 
perforated in all directions by the various species of Petrel, 
which resort in myriads to the island during the season of 
incubation and burrow in the earth. The weaker tribes of 
these birds are devoured in vast numbers by the Skua Gulls, 
which pounce upon them as they come out of their holes in 
the evening, and leave nothing but the bones and feathers to 
attest the havoc made amongst them. The surface of the 
dome is furrowed on every side with ravines, which take 
their rise among the scoria of the peak, deepen as they 
descend, and open in tremendous chasms on the edge of the 
precipice. The various portions of the surface thus cut off 
in a great measure from all mutual communication, grow 
narrower and narrower as you approach the base of the 
peak, and dwindle at last into bare ridges of scoria, so sharp 
and so steep, that the wild goats of the mountain dare hardly 
venture to tread them. That ridge, in particular, over 
which we must either have passed, or returned without 
accomplishing our object, is, for at least 50 yards, not more 
than 12 inches in diameter. The wind blowing in violent 
gusts at the time rendered it the more difficult to maintain 
that strict equilibrium of body, the slightest bias from which, 
either to one side or the other, would precipitate any of us 
