THE PACIFIC OCEAN. in 



they left the plantation-ground, and began to fuffer much $79- 



from the violence of their thirft, they were obliged, before ' ' 



the night came on, to feparate into parties, and go in fearch 

 of water; and, at laft, found fome, left by rain in the bot- 

 tom of an unfinifhed canoe ; which, though of the colour 

 of red wine, was to them no unwelcome difcovery. In the 

 night, the cold was ftill more intenfe than they had found 

 it before; and though they had wrapped thcmfelves up in 

 mats and cloths of the country, and kept a large fire be> 

 tween the two huts, they could yet fleep but very little; 

 and were obliged to walk about the greatefl part of the 

 night. Their elevation was now probably pretty confide;- - 

 able, as the ground on which they had travelled had been 

 generally on the afcent. 



On the 29th, at day-break, they fet out, intending to make 

 their laft and utmoft efFort to reach the fnowy mountain; 

 but their fpirits were much deprefTed, when they found 

 they had expended the miferable pittance of water they had 

 found the night before. The path, which extended no far- 

 ther than where canoes had been built, was now at an end ; . 

 and they were therefore obliged to make their way as well 

 as they could; every now and then climbing up into the 

 highefl trees, to explore the country round. Ac eleven 

 o'clock, they came to a ridge of burnt ftones, from the top 

 of which they faw the fnowy mountain, appearing to be 

 about twelve or fourteen miles from them, . 



It was here deliberated, whether they mould proceed any 

 further, or reft fatisfied with the view they now had of 

 Mouna Roa. The road, ever fince the path ceafed, had be- 

 come exceedingly fatiguing; and, every moment they ad- 

 vanced, was growing ftill more fo. The deep chinks, with 

 which the ground was every where broken, being nightly 



covered 



