24. Mr, AndeHSoj^'s Jccouni of a 



4 P.M. au'i I had no profpe6l of the mountain's top ; but itcrn 

 the afcent of the ravin below, 1 knew it was a great way oit. I 

 thought if I could get into the ravin before night, I could gec 

 eafily up next morning. After cutting a great way througii 

 wild plantains, the fun near fetting, I found myfelf almoU: 

 over the verge of a precipice : by catching hold of Ibme ilirub^ 

 I prevented myfelf from falling. We were now about half- 

 wav down ; but all the way below us, as far as we could fee, 

 was a perpendicular precipice of rock, feveral hundred feet 

 high* to pafs which was impofllble. I had a view of fome part 

 of the top of the mountain, which I law was yet far from me ; 

 nor could I attempt any other way than the ridge I had left. 

 Being now fun-fet, and the negroes very difcontented, becaufe 

 they could not return that night, I found we mitft take up our 

 night's refidence in the place where we were. It was a very 

 tmfavourable one, there being nothing but plantains growing, 

 which retaining the rain iongln their leaves, and being frequently 

 agitated by the wind, were conflantly dropping, and kept the 

 ground always moift. Being almoft dark, we had time to make 

 us no other habitation, than placing two or three fticks againft 

 an old fiump of a tree, and flightly covering them with plantain 

 leaves. After getting together fome little wood to make a fire 

 to keep us comfortable, it began to blow and rain violently, 

 which continued ail night. We foon found our building 

 afforded us no fhelter, and the wood would not burn, fo that 

 we could not get any fire ; and the ground on which we were 

 Situated would not allow the leafl exercife to keep us warm# 

 From fuch a miferable night I experienced no mitigation for 

 the fatigues of the day. I wiflied for the riling fun, to renew 

 4jiy labours^ \vhich I at laft beheld with inex.prefiible joy, 



As 



