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pect on the ocean, and a distant view of three of the neighboring 

 islands. 



'*As we had proposed remaining at this hut through the night, 

 and were wilHng to preserve what provisions we had ready dress- 

 ed, we purchased a httle pig, and had him dressed by our host, 

 who bestirred himself and soon had it ready. As soon as the sun 

 was set, we found a considerable difference in the state of the 

 air. At night a heavy dew fell, and we felt it very chilly, and had 

 recourse to our blankets, notwithstanding we were in the hut. 

 The next morning we found there had been a heavy rain, 

 though none of it had approached us, notwithstanding we were 

 within two hundred yards of the skirts of the forest. And it 

 seemed to be a matter of fact, both from the information of the 

 natives and our own observations, that neither the rain nor the 

 dews descended lower than where the woods terminated? unless 

 at the equinoxes or more periodical conjuncture, by which means 

 the space between the woods and the shore is rendered warm, 

 and fit for the purposes of culture, and the vegetation of tropical 

 production. 



"We traversed these woods by a compass, keeping a direct 

 course for the peak, and was so happy the first day as to find a 

 footpath that tended nearly our due course, by which means we 

 travelled by estimation about fifteen miles, and though it would 

 have been no extraordinary march, had circumstances been dif- 

 ferent, yet, as we found them, we thought it a very great one ; 

 for it was not only excessively miry and rough, but the way was 

 mostly an ascent, and we had been unused to walking, and 

 especially to carry such loads as we had. Our Indian companions 

 were much more fatigued than we were, though they had noth- 

 ing to carry, and, what displeased us very much, would not 

 carry anything. Our botanical researches delayed us somewhat. 



"The sun had not set when we halted, yet meeting with a situa- 

 tion that pleased us> and not being limited as to time, we spent 

 the remaining part of the day as humor dictated, some in botaniz- 

 ing, and those who had fowling-pieces with them in shooting. 

 For my part I could not but think the present appearance of our 

 encampment claimed a part of our attention, and therefore set 

 about some alterations and amendments. It wa's the trunk of a 

 tree, that had fallen by the side path, and lay with one end 

 transversely over another tree, and had fallen before in an oppo- 

 site direction, and as it measured twenty-two feet in circumfer- 

 ence, and lay four feet from the ground, it afforded very good 

 shelter except at the sides, which defect I supplied by large pieces 

 of bark, and a good quantity of boughs, which rendered it very 

 commodious. We slept through the night under it much better 

 than we had done the preceding, notwithstanding there was a 

 heavy dew, and the air cold. 



"The next morning we set out in good spirits, hoping that day 

 to reach the snowy peak ; but we had not gone a mile, before the 

 path, that had hitherto so much facilitated our progress, began 



