ON TERRA FIRMA OXCE MORE. 235 



my companions, wlio had found the way we had come 

 up, and after some slips and sprains, and considerable 

 bruising, we all reached the bottom safely, and were 

 glad to be off the volcano, and, landing on Bauda 

 Neira, feel ourselves on terra firma once more. 



For a few days I could scarcely walk or move my 

 arms, but this lameness soon passed away ; not so 

 Avith the impressions made on my mind by those 

 dangers : and even now, when I am suddenly aroused 

 from sleep, for a moment the past becomes the pres- 

 ent, and I am once more on the tongue of land, with 

 a frightful gulf on either hand, or I am saving myself 

 by grasj)ing tliat fern. 



According to the statements of the officials, many 

 years ago a gentleman had the hardihood to attempt 

 to ascend this mountain alone. As he did not return 

 at the expected time, a party of natives was sent to 

 search for him, and his dead body was found some 

 distance beneath the summit. The rocks to which he 

 had intrusted himself had probably given way, and 

 the only sensation that could have followed was one 

 of falling and a quick succession of stunning blows, 

 and life was gone. Governor Arriens assured me 

 that the band of loose stones was the most danger- 

 ous place he had ever crossed, though he had climbed 

 many nearly perpendicular walls, but always where 

 tlie rocks were fixed and could l^e relied on for a 

 footing and a hold. If the ascent and descent were 

 not so difficult, sulphur might be gathered in such 

 quantities at the summit crater that it would form 

 an important article of export. The authorities in- 

 formed me that much was obtained in former times, 



