OF, LA PER.0USE. 23 



cone ; but there is an herbaceous plant, which, 

 notwithstanding, its apparent delicacy, vegetates 

 at a iiill greater elevation. This is a violet with 

 leaves rather elongated, and (lightly toothed at 

 the edges: it r was already faded; it 



grows quite clofe to the fummit of the Peak, 

 where/ve foon arrived. The vapours of the at- 

 mofphere not being able to rife at this height, the 

 iky fhews itfelf in all its brightnefs, and fhines 

 with an azure more brilliant and more ftriking 

 than in the fmeft days of our climates ; a few 

 clouds fcattered here and there, far below our 

 fee:\y did not conceal the profpect of the neigh- 

 bouring iflands. 



This fummit is terminated by a brow, the 

 greateir. elevation of which is towards the north- 

 weft. To the fouth-weft. I remarked a very fen- 

 fible depreflion, which feems to have been pro - 

 duced: by the linking of the lands. 



Qui-te clofe to its poiii^re feen feveral aper- 

 tures, at moft a decimeter in wMth, w ? hence iffucs 

 a very hot vapour, which caufes Reaumur's 

 thermometer to rife to 6y above o,: producing a. 

 noife fomewhat iimilar to the buzzing of bees. 

 When, in the advanced feafon of the year, the 

 fnow whitens the fummit of the Peak, that 

 which falls near to thefe apertures does not long 

 withftand fuch a degree of heat. Beautiful 

 cryftals of iulphur, molt of them in the form of 

 needles, among which I faw fome of a regular" 

 c 4 fhape, 



