488 Capi. Carmiciiael's Description of 



ino- in violent susts at the time, rendered it the more difficult to 

 maintain that strict equilibrium of body, the slightest bias from 

 which, either to one side or the other, would precipitate any of us 

 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 Avould admit of. 



A short way beyond this ridge vegetation ceases ; not so much, 

 however, owing to the elevation of the ground, as to the total 

 Avant of any kind of soil wherein plants could 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, fragments of cellular lava, and 

 all sorts of volcanic refuse, constantly slipping under your feet, and 

 rendering the toil of ascending excessive. For nearly a mile we 

 walked alons a ridge of blue lava, Avhich seems to have been at 

 one time covered over, but afterwards left exposed by the gradual 

 recession of the loose matters which covered it. In grain and co- 

 lour it resembles the veins which intersect the island mass; but 

 is disposed on the slightest stroke to break into small amorphous 

 fragments. 



The crater is nearly a mile in circumference : its border is irre- 

 gular, the south bide being two or tlircc liuiidiccl 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 see the distant ocean on all sides over 

 the cloud which still shrowded the lower. part of the dome; but 

 no part of the low land can be seen at any time, being covered by 



the 



