BOOK II. CHAP. VIII. 125 



a(pe(St is in general a red clay ; but, in other parts, it is of a coarfer, 

 friable texture, and intermixed with fmall flones, or a lort of grit. 

 Where they have been cleared of wood, and cultivated, their in- 

 fertility has been promoted by heavy rains washing down the finer 

 mould. From Kiugfton they appear of a reddifh cafl, interfperfed 

 with verdure here and there, and furrowed with innumerable gullies, 

 fome of which are very deep ; and at this diftance they refemble 

 very much the South afpedl of the Madeira ifland. The road af- 

 eending into thefe lofty regions is in general fleep and irregular, 

 incapable of admitting wheel carriages. The journey is therefore 

 performed on horfe-back. But it is not dangerous, except in one 

 part, where the road paffes along a precipice, and is formed on 

 wooden flakes driven into the fide of the mountain, and well co- 

 vered with crofs timbers and earth, which make a kind of geome- 

 trical bridge. But this is of no great length; and, being kept in 

 good repair, it feems to be accompanied with more of horror than 

 of real periL Afcending higher, vaft numbers of the larger 

 fwifts are feen Ikimming over the mountain-tops with great velo- 

 city; and fometimes they wliiz along fo near the traveler's head, 

 \ittering their fhrill cries, as to flartle him, if he is unprepared. 

 The bull-finch's notes are more entertaining : they are very fingular, 

 and of a melancholy air. The beautiful forked-tail papilio flies 

 arc feen in fwarms ; they generally keep together, flitting in a di- 

 re£iion with the wind ;, they feem ever on the wing, and fometimes 

 venture to foar above the highefl pitch of thefe mountains. In this 

 part of tlie country there is no. appearance of lime-flone. The 

 llone obfcrved here is brittle and crumbling, difpofed in lamina, 

 turns black in the fire, and will not ferment with aqua foriis^. 

 The lime made ufe of is manufaiStured from incruftations, which 

 are; found in lufficient abundance The trees, for the moft part, 

 yre flender and flunted; many of them are enveloped with mofs, 

 and others entirely killed by it.. This covering makes them appear 

 at a finall diflance as if they were frofled over; and the coldnefs of 

 the air naturally caufes this deception on firft: arriving from the 

 glow of heat which broods over the lov.lands about Kingfton.- 

 The thermometer here, in general, was at-fixty and fixty-five degrees 

 in the middle of the day in July; while it rofe to eighty-fix and 



ninety. 



