49 
in an instant to the depth of several hundred feet. We got 
safely over it, however, though with some trepidation, and 
in a manner as various, I believe, as the number of our party 
would admit of. 
* A short way beyond this ridge, vegetation ceases; not 
so much, however, owing to the elevation of the ground, as 
from the total want of any kind of soil wherein plants may fix 
their roots. From this point to the summit, a distance of 
about a mile and a half, the whole is a mass of scoria, frag- 
ments of cellular lava, and all sorts of volcanic refuse, con- 
stantly slipping under your feet, and rendering the toil of 
ascending excessive. For nearly a mile, we walked along 
a ridge of blue lava, which seems to have been at one time 
covered over, but afterwards left exposed by the recession of 
the loose matters which covered it. In grain and colour it 
resembles the veins which intersect the island mass; but is 
disposed on the slightest stroke to break into small amor- 
phous fragments. ^ 
* The crater is nearly a mile in circumference, its borde 
is irregular, the south side being 200 or 300 feet higher 
than the north, by which we ascended. At the bottom of it 
there is a pool of water about 150 yards in diameter, to 
which the descent by the north side is gradual and easy. 
Its depth appears to be inconsiderable, as we could discover 
the bottom more than half-way across, and its border is 
covered with rounded fragments of cellular lava, which float 
about at the humour of the breeze. The water is pure, and 
untainted with any mineral solution. From the peak we 
could discern the distant ocean on all sides, over the cloud 
which still shrouded the lower part of the dome, but no part 
of the low land can be seen at any time, being covered by the 
projection of the table land. I found several mosses on the 
summit of the peak, and some lichens, among others the 
L. paschalis. There was also a large patch of snow a con- 
siderable way down its side, and another within the crater. 
_ Besides the principal crater, which terminates the peak, 
there are several others scattered over the declivity of the 
dome, which must have rested for ages quiescent, as they 
VOL. III. E 
