FEATURES OF THE COUNTUY. 19 



tempt to walk in that direction requires continued 

 scrambling up and down over the sharp rocks of 

 mica-slate ; and as for the woods, our faces, hands, 

 and shin-bones all bore witness to the maltreatment 

 we received in merely attempting to penetrate their 

 forbidden recesses. 



Decemher ISfh. — We stood out to sea. On the 

 20th we bade farewell to the south, and, with a fair 

 wind, turned the ship's head northward. From 

 Cape Tres Montes we sailed pleasantly along the 

 lofty weather-beaten coast, which is remarkable for 

 the bold outline of its hills, and the thick covering 

 of forest even on the almost precipitous flanks. The 

 next day a harbour was discovered, which, on this 

 dangerous coast, might be of gi'eat service to a dis- 

 tressed vessel. It can easily be recognised by a hill, 

 1600 feet high, which is even more perfectly conical 

 than the famous sugar-loaf at Rio de Janeiro. The 

 next day, after anchoring, I succeeded in reaching 

 the summit of this hill. It was a laborious under- 

 taking, for the sides were so steep that in some 

 parts it was necessary to use the trees as ladders. 

 There were also several extensive brakes of the 

 Fuchsia, covered with its beautiful drooping flow- 

 ers, but very difficult to crawl through. In these 

 wild countries it gives much delight to gain the 

 summit of any mountain. There is an indefinite 

 expectation of seeing something very strange, 

 which, however often it may be balked, never fail- 

 ed with me to recur on each successive attempt. 

 Every one must know the feeling of triumph and 

 pride which a grand view from a height communi- 

 cates to the mind. In these little-frequented coun- 

 tries, there is also joined to it some vanity, that you, 

 perhaps, are the first man who ever stood on this 

 pinnacle or admired this view. 



A strong desire is always felt to ascertain wheth- 



