THE ASCENT OF ORIZABA. 79 



Next morning (April 7th), at four o'clock, we turned 

 out, ate a light meal, and started for the peak on foot. We 

 were well protected from the cold by extra jackets, which 

 we had brought with us. To prevent us from slipping on 

 the ice, we wore stockings over our shoes. Leaving the 

 ledge of rock where we had spent the night, we first passed 

 over a comparatively level plain, covered with tufts of dried, 

 half-dead grass. The soil here was sandy, and progression 

 difficult. A gentle incline was soon reached, which carried 

 us to the foot of the peak proper. Here the last vestige of 

 vegetation disappeared, and we were surrounded by black 

 and barren blocks of lava. Soon the rise was at an angle 

 of thirty-five degrees, and the climbing became very fa- 

 tiguing. One of our party soon showed signs of giving out, 

 and complained of pains in his head and stomach; he also 

 had a desire to lie down and go to sleep. At a height of 

 14,000 feet, he was obliged to succumb and return to the 

 camp. Now the ascent was over huge boulders and 

 crumbling stones, and in many places a few steps forward 

 were followed by one backwards. From our present ele- 

 vation we were enabled to view the country for many miles. 

 Way off in the distance were seen the snow-capped peaks of 

 Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl, sister peaks to Orizaba. 

 Down in the valley below was seen the town of San Andres, 

 appearing like a child's toy, and scattered over the plain 

 were towns and villages in every direction. 



Frequent rests were now taken, for the rarified air was 

 beginning to tell on the rest of us. At one of our resting- 

 places, I had the good fortune to observe the clouds rising 

 slowly from the valley. As they rose higher and higher, 

 peak after peak was covered, until a level sea of clouds lay 

 before me, with here and there a point appearing above it 

 like an island in the midst of a sea. It was the most beau- 

 tiful sight I had ever seen. Again we arose and stumbled 



