94 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



at least we endeavoured to trace the same way, 

 but it required a great deal of nerve to attempt it. 

 The sides of the mountain are nearly perpen- 

 dicular ; but after ascending about 200 feet, it is 

 then entirely covered with wood, which renders 

 the footing much more safe ; but in order to get 

 to the wood, the road is so dangerous that it made 

 me almost tremble to think of it. Slippery grey 

 rocks, and many of them unfortunately loose, 

 when we took hold, separated from the mass, and 

 fell with a horrid rumbling noise. Here and there 

 were a few patches of grass, the only thing we 

 could depend upon to assist us in climbing, which 

 must be done with extreme caution, as the least 

 slip or false step would dash one to atoms on 

 the rocks below. By constantly looking upwards, 

 and continuing to haul ourselves up by catching 

 firm hold of the grass, after an hour's painful toil 

 we gained the summit, when we found ourselves 

 on an extended plain of several miles' expanse, 

 which terminates in the peak composed of dark 

 grey lava, bare and frightful to behold. We pro- 

 ceeded towards it, the plain gradually rising, but 

 the walk was most fatiguing over strong rank 

 grass and ferns several feet high. A death-like 



