OF LA PEROUSE. I7 



we took breath for a moment, in order to attack 

 with more courage, the upper mountains. 



Our guides were aftonifhed to fee fome of us 

 perform this journey on foot, contrary to the 

 euflom of mofl of the travellers who come to 

 viiit the Peak ; fo much fo, that they for a long 

 time continued to entreat us to mount the mules 

 which they had brought for our accommodation. 



After having croffed fome beautiful planta- 

 tions of vines, we found oufTelves in the midfl 

 of chefnut-trees, which grow in the moft ele- 

 vated regions. 



In the ravines I met with the Virginia polipo- 

 dium (potipodium Virgmkum), and feveral new 

 ipecies of laurel ; among which I remarked 

 that known by the name of Indian laurel 

 (hums Indica, Linn.). 



Although this journey was not to be pro- 

 longed beyond a few days, we had, very pro- 

 perly, been advifed to carry feveral pairs of 

 fhoes ; for the belt are foon worn out by the lava 

 on which it is continually requifite to walk. 



It was hardly noon, when we had reached the 

 clouds that diffufed a heavy dew on the ihrubs, 

 in the midft of which we had to pafs. 



The abundance of rain with which the na- 

 tural difpofltion of the air is impregnated on 

 thefe heights, fhould produce a great number of 

 fprings. They are, however, here very fcarce ; 



vol. 1. c for 



