1826, JUNE. BLUE MOUNTAINS 191 



Tuesday, 20th. As usual started at daylight with a view of reaching the 

 height of land against dusk. The further I went the more difficult I found 

 my undertaking. At midday I made a short stop, where I passed the first 

 snow and collected several plants. Immediately after eating a little dried 

 salmon and a mouthful of water from a chilly crystal spring, I continued 

 my route until 4 P.M., where the horses were stopped by deep wreaths of 

 eternal snow, about 1500 feet below the extreme height of the range. As my 

 object was, if possible, to reach the low alluvial grounds on the opposite 

 side, where I had great expectations, my disappointment may be imagined. 

 However, in the meantime I selected my camp under a projecting rock, 

 saw the horses hobbled, and as it appeared to me my guide seemed some- 

 what alarmed, I thought it prudent to give him a little time to cool or 

 change his opinion. Therefore I set out on foot with my gun and a small 

 quantity of paper under my arm to gain the summit, leaving them to take 

 care of the horses and camp. In the lower parts I found it exceedingly 

 fatiguing walking on the soft snow, having no snowshoes, but on reaching 

 within a few hundred feet of the top, where there was a hard crust of frost, 

 I without the least difficulty placed my foot on the highest peak of those 

 untrodden regions where never European was before me. The height 

 must be great 7000 to 7500 from the platform of the mountain, and on 

 the least calculation 9000 above the level of the sea. (Thermometer at 

 5 P.M., 26 Fahr.) Two days before the maximum heat at the foot of the 

 mountains was 92, and this day I have every reason to think was equally 

 warm. 1 The view of the surrounding country is extensive and grand. I 

 had not been there above three-quarters of an hour when the upper part 

 of the mountain was suddenly enveloped in dense black cloud ; then 

 commenced a most dreadful storm of thunder, lightning, hail, and wind. 

 I never beheld anything that could equal the lightning. Sometimes it 

 would appear in massy sheets, as if the heavens were in a blaze ; at others, in 

 vivid zigzag flashes at short intervals with the thunder resounding through 

 the valleys below, and before the echo of the former peal died away the 

 succeeding was begun, so that it was impressed on my mind as if only one. 

 The wind was whistling through the low stunted dead pines accompanied 

 by the merciless cutting hail. As my situation was not a desirable one for 

 spending the night, and it was creeping on me, I hastily bent my steps to 

 my camp below, which I providentially reached at eight o'clock, just in the 

 twilight, the storm raging still without the least appearance of abating. 

 The horses were so alarmed that I found it necessary to tie them to some 

 trees close to the camp. 1 As no fire could be kept in, my supper was of the 

 same quality as my breakfast ; and as all my clothes were wet, and having 

 nothing to change, I stripped and rolled myself in my blanket and went 

 soundly to sleep shortly afterwards. Precisely at twelve I was so 

 benumbed with cold that on endeavouring to get up I found my knees 

 refused to do their office. I scoured them well with a rough towel, and as 

 the storm was over made a cheering fire. I could not resist the temptation 

 of making a little tea, which I found restored me greatly (thermometer 

 26). I If I have any zeal, for once and the first time it began to cool. 

 Hung my clothes up to dry and lay down and slept until three o'clock. 



