50 CANARY ISLANDS. 



I next proceeded to La Cueva del Yelo, where I 

 beheld the beautiful and sublime spectacle of the rising 

 sun. After refreshing myself and making some observa- 

 tions on temperature, I continued to ascend by degrees, 

 having repeated turns of resting, and at ten o'clock, once 

 more gained the " grand summit," where the sublimity of 

 the scene was at first almost overwhelming. Far removed 

 from every human habitation, and elevated at an immense 

 height from the face of the earth, drawn as it were to a 

 single point without any intermediate objects, save the 

 clouds, for the senses or the imagination to rest upon, and 

 recover from their astonishment in their way down to the 

 world, it was not until some time that I was capable of 

 discriminating and judging of the things that were about 

 me. Then to reflect that the very pinnacle upon which I 

 was placed, was raised over a bottomless gulf, old as the 

 world itself, and often had discharged rivers of liquid fire, 

 and flaming rocks, attended with the most dreadful conse- 

 quences, I was struck with awe and with horror. Soon, 

 however, I collected myself and commenced the object of 

 my ascent, and accomplished its full intention. 



At twelve o'clock, I bade adieu to this awful spot, 

 inspired with feelings both of pleasure and of pain. I 

 descended to La Estancia, making several observations on 

 the way, and at two o'clock in the afternoon pursued my 

 journey homeward. 



Observations. — During the two hours which I passed 

 on the Peak, the face of the sky was intensely serene, and 

 of a hue approaching to black.* The rays of the sun fell 

 upon me with such potency, that they could be hardly 

 endured. The wind was but just perceptible from the 

 north-east, and a stratum of white, fleecy clouds was spread 

 out, concealing all the lower regions, presenting an appear- 

 ance exactly resembling an extensive plain covered with 

 snow. From the rariiied state of the atmosphere, there 

 was great difficulty in breathing. Although a deep silence 

 prevailed around me, the voices of my guides ceased 



*Hn nboMt reinarks, that thn cyanometer iiulicuted an intensity of the sky, of 

 4F, at tlie time he was on the Peak. 



