Fblcan/c Alountain in St. Vincent's. 23^ 



myfelf very little nearer than when I was at the hottom. The 

 woods now became very difficult to get through ; great quan- 

 tities of fallen trees lying buried under long grafs and being 

 rotten, when I thought myfelf walking on the ground, I was 

 frequently buried a great depth among them. Being now 

 about noon, and my turn to carry the baggage, and confe- 

 quently my turn of reft, I was furprifed to hear a ruftling 

 among the bufiies, and fomething like a human voice behind 

 me. As we were now in^aplace where I had little reafon to 

 fuppofe there had been a human foot before, and could not 

 imagine there could be habitations of Caribbees or run- away 

 negroes, iince from the barrennefs of the mountain they 

 could notpoffibly find any provifions to fubfift on, I told the boy 

 to ftandflill, and let us wait their coming up; for if they were 

 Garibbees advancing with an intention to hurt us, there was no 

 alternative but to defend ourfelves. You may imagine my fur- 

 prife when I faw one of the negroes who had been with me the 

 day before, with three others, which Mr. Maloune had fen t 

 to my affiilance, with plenty of provifions. After rcfrefh- 

 ment, with this afliftance, I renewed my labours with frefh 

 fpirits, and thought I was fure of reaching the top before 

 night. Having proceeded a little, I had a fair view of the 

 ravin on my left, which was of prodigious depths and ran 

 from near the top of the mountain to the fea ; its bottom 

 feemed to be a rock of a colour nearly refembling lava, and 

 appeared as if there had been vafl torrents of fulphureous mat- 

 ter running in it feme time. I regretted much I knew not of 

 this ravin before I commenced my excurfion, as by paffing a 

 head-land in a canoe, and getting Into the ravin, I might have 

 gained the fummit of the mountain, without experiencing the 

 delays and difficulties I here encountered. It was now about 



