Geology, and Climate of the f stand of Madeira. 373 



was the cold, that our rough pilot-coats, on the side exposed 

 to the keen north wind, were completely cased with hoar-frost 

 from the congelation of the mist. We had, of course, dis- 

 mounted, and walked or ran, to keep up circulation and anima 

 heat ; but the depressing influence of the cold was so great as 

 to render necessary a good deal of trouble to persuade our- 

 selves and each other to continue our exertions. The hope of 

 the weather clearing, together with a repugnance to returning 

 to some friends at St Vincente without having accomplished 

 our purpose, made us resolve, at all events, to push on till a 

 prudent portion of the daylight had been spent in advancing. 

 An accident, however, happening to one of the horses, deter- 

 mined our speedy retreat. The Portuguese, having no other 

 clothing than their usual light dress, had suffered severely from 

 the cold, and were so helplessly benumbed as to be able to give 

 us little assistance. They had been speaking dolefully about 

 *' dying on the mountains," *' perishing in the snow," and so 

 forth ; but we had not sooner been led to observe their suffer- 

 ings, from suspecting that they were partly feigned, in order 

 to induce us to return. We had quieted them, and prevented 

 them leaving us, by telling them that sooner than do that, we 

 would go on to pass the night at Seisal, or descend from the 

 Paul by some other route. On reflecting that the delay now 

 experienced might involve risk if occurring later in the day, 

 we resolved to return as speedily as possible. Any improve- 

 ment in the weather was now hopeless ; the miserable mono- 

 tony of the mist being relieved only by occasional horrid pelt- 

 ings of hail and sleet. We soon, too, found that our guide had 

 for a long time been advancing without knowing anything of 

 the path, and that he, therefore, could be of no use in leading 

 us along the most expeditious line of return. Our only plan 

 was to endeavour to return as nearly as possible by the way 

 which we had come. We had been passing over a broken stony 

 surface, 'covered almost entirely with water from the melted 

 snow; and there were no objects to note in any way the route. 

 Wc therefore formed into line, leaving as much space between 

 each as the thickness of the mist admitted, for keeping within 

 sight and communication of each other, and in this way began 

 anxiously to look for footsteps. On euch a bui face it was ditficult 



