OF LA PEROUSE. 25 



return, and we went down much quicker than 

 we had afcended. 



The day was far fpent, when we repaired to 

 the fpot where we had patTed the preceding night. 

 The almofl total privation of the fun, occasioned 

 by the cxcefiive cold which we had here ex- 

 perienced, had deprived us of the wifh of making 

 it again our refting-place. We would have 

 liked to be able to proceed immediately, in order 

 to feek a better fhelter on fome lefs elevated 

 mountain : but our guides not choofing to ftir 

 before the rife of the moon, we were obliged to 

 flay here till near midnight, waiting till it ap- 

 peared on the horizpn. It was by the feeble light 

 of this planet, that we defcended over the pumice- 

 ftones, by a road at no great diftance from that 

 which we had travelled in climbing up thefe 

 lofty mountains. 



After walking for four hours, the fhrubs, which 

 grew very thick, rendered the road fo difficult to 

 pafs as to oblige us to halt till daylight. We 

 were no longer, as the preceding night, in that 

 fpot deftitute of wood; and, indeed, we made 

 ourfelves ample amends by a large fire, which 

 was immediately kindled. While we were 

 warming ourfelves, very much at our eafe, the 

 converfation turned upon what remained for us 

 to do. The greater part, fatigued by this labo- 

 rious excurfion, had no other defire than to pro- 

 ceed 



