Sketch of the Life of Mr. David Douglas, 341 



man who carded the provisions, did not make his appearance — 

 indeed it is very difficult except by literally driving them before 

 you, to make the natives keep up with an active traveller. Thus 

 I had to sup upon Taro Roots. Honori as I expected, did not 

 come up. I had no view of the surrounding country for the 

 region below, especially over the land, was covered with a thick 

 layer of fleecy mist, and the cloud which always hovers above 

 the great volcano, overhung the horizon, and rose into the air like 

 a great -tow^er. Sunset gave a totally different aspect to the 

 whole, the fleecy clouds changed their hue to a vapoury tint, and 

 the volume of mist above the volcanoes, which is silvery bright 

 during the prevalence of sunshine, assumed a fiery aspect, and 

 illumined the sky for many miles around. A strong north-west 

 mountain breeze sprung up, and the stars, especially Canopus and 

 Sirius, shone with unusual brilliancy. Never even under a tro- 

 pical sky did I behold so many stars. Sheltered by a little brush- 

 wood, I lay down on the lava beside the fire, and enjoyed a good 

 night's rest, while my attendants, swarmed together in a small 

 cave, which they literally converted into an oven by the immense 

 fire they kindled in it." 



" Wednesday, January 29th. — The morning rose bright and clear, 

 but cold, from the influence of a keen mountain breeze. As the man 

 who carried the provisions was still missing, the preparation of 

 breakfast occupied but little time, so that accompanied by the Bird 

 Catcher and " Cutty Sark," I started at half past six for the sum- 

 mit of the mountain, leaving the others to collect fuel, and to 

 look for water. Shortly before day-break the sky was exceeding- 

 ly clear and beautiful, especially that part of the horizon where 

 the sun rose, and above which the upper rim of his Disc was visi- 

 ble like a thread of gold, soon to be quenched in a thick haze, 

 which was extended over the horizon. It were difficult, nay 

 almost impossible to describe the beauty of the sky, and the glo- 

 rious scenes of this day. The lava is terrible beyond description 

 and our track lay over ledges of the roughest kind, in some places 

 glassy and smooth like slag from the furnace, compact and heavy 

 like basalt ; in others tumbled into enormous mounds, or sunk in 

 deep valleys, or rent into fissures, ridges, and clefts. This was at 

 the verge of the snow — not twenty yards of the whole space 

 could be called level or even. In every direction vast holes or 

 mouths are seen, varying in size, form, and color, from ten to 

 seventy feet high. The lava that has been vomited forth from 



